NBA: Will Marcus Smart Play In Boston Celtics Vs Indiana Pacers? Here's An Update

Boston Celtics are set to be without defender Marcus Short for their rematch against Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

Short suffered right thigh contusion in Monday's 101-98 win over the Pacers at home while fighting over a screen set by opponents' All-Star big man, Domantas Sabonis. The injury took place when there were only six minutes left in the third quarter.

Initially, the 27-year-old defender was on the list of Celtics' probable to return but after the game, head coach Ime Udoka said Smart's thigh swelled and tightened up sooner than he had expected, leading him to be out of the upcoming match against Pacers.

"It tightened up. He felt OK initially when he went to the bench and tried to go in the back and loosen it up, and it actually swelled up and tightened up quicker than he thought so wasn’t able to go, pain tolerance probably but also some swelling," Udoka said in a recent interview, Press Herald reported.

Apart from Smart, Celtics may also be without Payton Pritchard, who has missed the last four games due to safety protocols and is listed as questionable for Wednesday's fixture.

Smart is considered one of the best defenders in the entire NBA, regardless of position, due to his fierce nature, strength and hands. He has been a vital cog of the current Celtics team and is one of their most dependable players this season, having played 38 of the team's 41 games so far, averaging a career-high 34.1 minutes per game.

In Eastern Conference, Celtics are currently placed 10th in the table, having won 20 games and lost 21. Pacers are three places below Celtics and have so far managed to secure only 15 victories. They lost 26 games.