Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart will start Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks after missing Game 2 of the series with a thigh injury.
Smart, the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was dealing with a right quad contusion and then took two shots to the quad on back-to-back plays in the third quarter of the Celtics' Game 1 loss to the Bucks.
Celtics coach Ime Udoka said Smart will not be under a minutes restriction. Smart had been listed as probable for the game and said Thursday there was a "strong likelihood" he'd be ready for Game 3.