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Tim BontempsESPN
MIAMI — Boston Celtics starters Marcus Smart (midfoot sprain) and Al Horford (health and safety protocols) missed Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Heat in Miami on Tuesday night.
The team made the announcement about two-and-a-half hours before tipoff.
Smart suffered the sprain in Game 7 against the Bucks on Sunday, and had been listed as questionable for the series opener in Miami.
Horford’s absence, meanwhile, comes as a total surprise, with no indication of any issue with the veteran forward until the team announced that he had entered the protocols. Celtics coach Ime Udoka said he initially found out about Horford’s status around 5 p.m. Tuesday. He wouldn’t say if Horford tested positive.
“As always, we don’t comment on the status of our guys,” Udoka said. “He’s feeling fine. We’ll go from there. Wait to see results and tests and future tests.”
Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the Celtics are preparing to be without Horford through at least Game 2 on Thursday night.
“It’s unsure,” Udoka said, when asked how long Horford might be out. “It’s more of a medical question, honestly. But there are different protocols and tests that have to be passed, and we’ll know going forward, but it’s not a definite that he’s out for two games.”
For a player to return to game action after testing positive, there are two paths: Return two consecutive negative PCR tests at least 24 hours apart; return two consecutive PCR tests sampled at least 24 hours apart with cycle threshold (CT) values greater than 30 beginning no sooner than Day 4 and 5 after initially testing positive.
This marks the third time Horford has been placed in the league’s health and safety protocols. He tested positive for COVID-19 during the preseason, and then was placed in the protocols again in December.
It means the Celtics will require more from Robert Williams III, who missed Games 5 and 6 against Milwaukee because of a bone bruise in his left knee — the same one he had surgery on late in the regular season, forcing him to miss three-plus weeks. He was also active for Game 7 of the Bucks series, but did not play, as Udoka said he wanted to be cautious with the center as he returned and didn’t want to shake up his rotation.
Smart, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, suffered the injury in Boston’s Game 7 victory over Milwaukee, when he took a tumble over Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“It’s how he reacts to treatment throughout the day,” Udoka said after Tuesday morning’s shootaround when asked about Smart’s chances of playing. “The swelling is there, the soreness is there, but we hope he has good treatment and we’ll see how it goes. It’s still sore. But he has a long day — an extra hour or two, and we’ll see how he feels. Legitimately questionable.”
News of the absences of both Smart and Horford had an immediate sports betting impact. The Game 1 point spread moved from Heat -2.5 to Heat -4 at Caesars Sportsbook.
Guard Derrick White and forward Grant Williams started in their places.
The Heat, meanwhile, again were without Kyle Lowry, who was ruled out Monday due to a hamstring strain.
