Marcus Smart is listed as questionable for Saturday's game at the Hawks with a left forearm issue. The Rockets, 2-0 with him in the lineup, could be without a guard who has played 23.9 minutes a game.
What happened
Marcus Smart appeared on the Houston Rockets' injury report Saturday at 3:46 p.m. ET with a left forearm issue. His status is Day-To-Day. He had no previous status on the report. The report's comment reads: "Smart (forearm) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game against the Hawks." The report gives an expected return date of Oct. 24, the same day as the game. It does not describe how the injury happened. It does not give a timeline beyond that date.
What it means for the Rockets
Houston plays at the Hawks on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Rockets are 2-0 and hold the third seed, with a two-game winning streak. Smart, 32, is averaging 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 23.9 minutes over two games. Last season he averaged 9.3 points and 3.0 assists in 28.5 minutes over 62 games. The Rockets have not played without him this season. The depth is thin. Fred VanVleet is out with a right knee issue, and Reed Sheppard is day-to-day with a left knee issue. Steven Adams is also out. Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard, if he plays, are the options for added guard minutes.
What to watch
The next update is Houston's final status before Saturday's 8:30 p.m. ET game at Atlanta. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 24, but a questionable tag means his availability is not settled. Watch Sheppard's status as well, since his knee issue affects how many guards Houston has. After Atlanta, the team has not announced anything further for Smart. No other games ahead are in the information available.
Is Marcus Smart playing against the Hawks?
He is questionable for Saturday's game at the Hawks, which starts at 8:30 p.m. ET. The injury report lists a left forearm issue and an expected return of Oct. 24.
When will Marcus Smart be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 24, the day of the Hawks game. No longer timeline has been announced.