Marcus Smart praised by Cavs after helping Celtics gain 2-0 series edge

BOSTON -- On a night Marcus Smart did all the typical Marcus Smart things -- diving into the crowd to save a loose ball, standing up for a teammate after a hard foul, making a timely steal when his team needed it most -- everyone from his teammates to LeBron James gushed about the impact he has when he's on the court.

The Celtics improved to 8-2 since Smart returned from thumb surgery late in Boston's first-round triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks and his combination of hustle, grit and toughness have moved Boston two wins away from an improbable trip to the NBA Finals.

Smart finished with 11 points on a mere 3-of-9 shooting but added nine assists, five rebounds, and four steals over 31 minutes…