Marcus Smart makes a dramatic reentry into Game 3 vs. Heat after rolling ankle in third quarter

BOSTON — Marcus Smart knows how to make things dramatic. 

Shortly after the Celtics guard had to leave Saturday night’s Game 3 against the Heat, Smart returned to action and calmly knocked down a gigantic three for Boston. It doesn’t get much more Marcus Smart than that.

Smart had to briefly leave the court after rolling his ankle early in the third quarter. He was hurt crashing the offensive glass after a Grant Williams missed three, rolling his ankle upon landing. To make matters worse, Kyle Lowry also landed on Smart.

Smart screamed in pain and rolled around on the floor, and couldn’t put any weight on his right leg as he was helped to the Boston locker room.

Smart only needed a few minutes though, as he returned to the court to a standing ovation from the TD Garden crowd. He had an obvious limp when taking the floor, but that just added to the moment.

And in true Smart fashion, he drained a three shortly after checking in to cut Miami’s lead to 72-62 with 6:05 left in the quarter.

Miami owned a 26-point lead in the first half, but the Celtics were able to make it a one-point game in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t enough though, as the Heat escaped with a 109-103 win to take a 2-1 series lead. 

Smart finished Game 3 with 16 points and seven assists. But the Celtics turned the ball over 24 times and couldn’t finish their comeback bid against Miami.

CBSBoston.com Staff

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