Marcus Smart outduels Russell Westbrook during career night
Marcus Smart may not be a star just yet, but his performance Sunday night against Russell Westbrook was yet another promising sign the Celtics have one in the making.
The 21-year-old returned to his collegiate state and put on a show with friends and family in attendance against one of the best guards in the NBA in Westbrook. Smart scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting while adding eight rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal in Boston’s 100-85 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Smart’s 26 points topped his former career-best of 25 points, which he posted in Oklahoma City back in March.
“I think that he likes this gym,’’ Brad Stevens said with a smile to reporters after the game. “It’s the gym he always shoots it well, right?’’
Smart’s effort was punctuated by a pair of highlight reel plays in the second half on both ends of the floor. First, the second-year guard completed a tough left-handed finish in traffic over 6-foot-11 Serge Ibaka.
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He followed that up in the fourth quarter with a perfectly timed block of D.J. Augustin on the fast break.
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The play was representative of a superb defensive night by Smart, as he helped to limit Westbrook to his worst shooting performance of the season. The Thunder All-Star guard shot just 5-of-20 from the field and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, but he was hesitant to give Smart much credit for outdueling him.
“He had a good game. There’s 82 games I do this,’’ Westbrook told reporters afterwards. “Don’t get it twisted.’’
While Westbrook was not in a giving mood, Stevens was happy to praise Smart’s development after the big road win.
“He plays D every night and I think his offense has really improved,’’ Stevens noted.
“I said before the game it’s too bad he had those two games when he was shaking the rust off, but that’s what it was. The law of averages played out tonight.’’
With four wins in Boston’s last five games all coming by double digits over playoff teams from last year, there’s plenty to be optimistic about if you are a Celtics fan right now, and Smart’s performance Sunday night likely tops the list.
“We’ve got a lot of room to grow and get better,’’ Stevens said, “But our guys aren’t scared.’’
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