Celtics' Smart likely to play Friday vs. Pistons
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Some good news for the Boston Celtics as guard Marcus Smart will likely return Friday against the Detroit Pistons, according to head coach Brad Stevens. Smart suffered a hand laceration after punching a frame in a Los Angeles hotel after a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Jan. 23. He hasn't played since.
Smart missed 11 games with the injury and sat out Wednesday's practice with a left quad contusion, but Stevens said it shouldn't stop the defensive ace from playing for the first time in a month.
The Celtics were 6-5 in Smart's absence and the league's top-ranked defense dropped to ninth during that stretch.
The Celtics will look to regain momentum after falling two games behind the Toronto Raptors for the top spot in the East.