Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart back for Game 3 after sitting out with quad injury

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart will start Saturday's game against the Milwaukee Bucks after missing Game 2 of the series with a thigh injury.

Smart, the 2021-22 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was dealing with a right quad contusion and then took two shots to the quad on back-to-back plays in the third quarter of the Celtics' Game 1 loss to the Bucks.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka said Smart will not be under a minutes restriction. Smart had been listed as probable for the game and said Thursday there was a «strong likelihood» he'd be ready for Game 3.

The best-of-seven series moves to Milwaukee with the team's tied 1-1.

Information from ESPN's Andrew Lopez was used in this report.