After a rough shooting performance in Game 1, the Boston Celtics will have to beat the Atlanta Hawks in Game 2 without two of their best shooters.
Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk will not play in Tuesday’s game against the Hawks because of a sore right right shoulder, coach Brad Stevens announced. The Celtics also are without starting guard Avery Bradley, who strained his right hamstring in Game 1 and is not expected to return during the best-of-seven series.
Olynyk missed 12 games this season with a separated right shoulder and appeared to aggravate the injury in Saturday’s one-point loss. He didn’t practice Monday and initially was ruled as questionable. It appears Olynyk, who celebrated his 25th birthday Tuesday, has been dealing with the injured shoulder for quite some time.
Stevens on Olynyk: "He’s been playing through a good deal of pain, so he won’t be able to go." Has lingered since the All-Star break.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) April 19, 2016
Unsure of Olynyk's status for rest of series but sounds like shoulder injury something that may need to be dealt with in offseason. #Celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) April 19, 2016
Olynyk was Boston’s best 3-point shooter during the regular season at 40.5 percent, while Bradley was the team’s second-leading scorer behind Isaiah Thomas at 15.2 points per game.
Stevens apparently will favor a small lineup in the absence of Olynyk and Bradley, telling reporters in Atlanta that Thomas, Marcus Smart, Jae Crowder and Evan Turner all will play 30-plus minutes. Smart, who scored a playoff career high 15 points Saturday, will start in Bradley’s place.
