Celtics' Isaiah Thomas: Hopeful to play Monday vs. Wizards

Coach Brad Stevens said Friday that he's hopeful Thomas (knee), who has been ruled out of the Celtics' next two games, will be able to play Monday against the Wizards, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe reports.

Analysis:

With Thomas diagnosed with a bone bruise in his right knee and experiencing some swelling as a result, the Celtics will hold him out Friday against the Nets and Sunday against the 76ers with the hope it resolves the problem. Though some thought that the Celtics may have been holding Thomas out for precautionary reasons with the team facing two of the league's worst teams, Stevens indicated that it's not merely a means of rest for the point guard. As a result, it's not a given that Thomas will be back in the lineup Monday, but the Celtics should update his condition as the weekend progresses. Stevens said that Marcus Smart would start at point guard for as long as Thomas is out.