Gordon Hayward, coming off an impressive 26-point performance, got the starting nod on Wednesday against Detroit. The Celtics were playing without Kyrie Irving (right knee strain) and his backup Terry Rozier (illness), leaving Boston extremely thin at the playmaking position. Hayward, who was making his first start since Dec. 21, played off the ball while Marcus Smart slid over to the point position.

Leaving Marcus Smart open to shoot? Not a smart strategy anymore originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com BOSTON -- It was a sight you seldom see when Marcus Smart has the ball behind the 3-point line - a defender closing out with the intent on contesting his shot. That's because for most of Smart's career, the biggest knock on the Boston Celtics guard was his inability to knock down long-range shots.

Kyrie Irving scored 30 points and passed out 11 assists on Sunday as the Boston Celtics snapped Oklahoma City's seven-game NBA win streak with a 134-129 home triumph. Marcus Morris added 19 points and Marcus Smart netted 18 as eight of nine players taking the court for Boston scored in double figures and the Celtics improved to 34-19, matching Philadelphia for third in the Eastern Conference. "We have great continuity, great rhythm," Irving said.

BOSTON – The Boston Celtics blocked out an emotional loss to the Golden State Warriors over the weekend. They swatted away a franchise record-tying number of shots, too. Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart each scored 21 points, and the Celtics beat Brooklyn, 112-104, on Monday night to snap the injury-riddled

Brad Stevens dubs two poor-shooting Celtics 'our Splash Brothers' originally appeared on nbcsportsbayarea.com Sorry, Brad Stevens, but the Splash Brothers reside in Oakland, not Boston. After the Celtics beat the Nets on Monday, the Celtics coach was asked about the 3-point shooting of guard Marcus Smart and backup center Aron Baynes. "Those are our Splash Brothers," Stevens told the media, which laughed at the comment.