ATLANTA — The Celtics will tell you it’s not all about Marcus Smart. But it sort of is.
They will tell you replacing the injured Avery Bradley has to be a group effort – that those already in the rotation have to expand their roles, while others like R.J. Hunter and Terry Rozier may get opportunities – and in many ways they are right. But if the Celts are to overcome the 1-0 deficit in the first-round playoff series against the Hawks and the absence of a starter, it will be necessary for Smart to accept a greater burden.
And though he sat out the workout to prevent further damage to a left index finger he injured Saturday night, Smart rejected the notion that a more intense spotlight will be bearing down on him now.
“I mean, I wouldn’t call it pressure,” he said. “I would call it a lot more responsibility. I was once told pressure is not knowing what you’re doing. Like I said, I’m comfortable. I’ve been to the playoffs two years. It’s not pressure; it’s just going out there and doing it.
“(There’s) no change with Avery being out. Just got to keep doing what I do. But I’m going to have more time to make more effort plays and intensity plays and help my team win.”
But even with shooting woes that took a break with his 15-point effort in Game 1, Smart has been far more good than bad of late.
“I think over the past month and a half he’s been doing a great job of playing a great all-around game,” said Evan Turner. “Everybody’s game’s different. Smart, what makes him great is that he’s a run-through-the-wall type of guy. You know what I’m saying? A bowling-ball type of guy. I’m not saying he doesn’t have any type of mentality or finesse, but his football body fits how he plays. That’s just how he grew up playing, but all of that helps.”
MONDAY’S GAMES
RAPTORS 98, PACERS 87: Jonas Valanciunas had 23 points and 15 rebounds and Kyle Lowry had 18 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Toronto won at home, snapping a postseason losing streak at seven games and evening their series at 1-1.
The Raptors had not won a playoff game since a 115-113 home victory over Brooklyn on April 30, 2014.
MAVERICKS 85, THUNDER 84: A putback at the buzzer by Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams that would have won the game was disallowed upon review as visiting Dallas evened its Western Conference playoff series at one win apiece.
Dallas had been embarrassed 108-70 in the opener on Saturday, but the Mavericks bounced back and held Oklahoma City to 33.7 percent shooting.
Raymond Felton scored 21 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 17 for the Mavericks. Deron Williams, declared doubtful on Sunday with a left abdominal strain, scored 13 points, 11 in the game’s first 5 minutes.
Kevin Durant scored 21 points for Oklahoma City, but he made just 7 of 33 shots in one of his worst shooting performances.
NOTES
WARRIORS: NBA MVP Stephen Curry was out for the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their playoff series against the Houston Rockets on Monday night because of an injured right ankle.
Curry cut short his pregame routine after appearing to be in discomfort dealing with the tender ankle.
The Warriors had waited to make a final decision on Curry’s status until he tried to warm up, then made the announcement about an hour before tipoff.
Playing without Curry, the Warriors were in control late in the game, leading 110-94 with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter.
PISTONS: Coach Stan Van Gundy was fined $25,000 for public criticism of officiating, it was announced by NBA executive vice president Kiki Vandeweghe.
Van Gundy made his comments in a live television interview during the Pistons’ 106-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series.
SPURS: Kawhi Leonard won his second straight NBA Defensive Player of the Year award after helping San Antonio have the league’s best defense.
Leonard beat out Draymond Green to become the first noncenter to win the award in consecutive seasons since Dennis Rodman in 1989-90 and 1990-91.
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