Marcus Smart moved from out to day-to-day with a left forearm issue on Sunday morning. The Rockets face the Hawks on Monday, and his listed expected return is Oct. 26.
What happened
Marcus Smart is listed as day-to-day with a left forearm issue, according to the injury report posted Sunday at 9:48 AM ET. He had been listed as out. On Saturday he went from day-to-day to out. Varun Shankar of the Houston Chronicle reported that Smart had been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Hawks. The report gives an expected return date of Oct. 26. No other detail on the injury has been announced.
What it means for the Rockets
Houston hosts the Hawks on Monday at 8:30 PM ET. The Rockets are 3-0, hold the top seed and have won three straight. Smart, a 32-year-old guard, has played two games this season. He averages 23.9 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. Houston is 2-0 with him and 1-0 without him. Without him, Kevin Durant plays 37.0 minutes, Amen Thompson 36.2 and Alperen Sengun 32.8. Reed Sheppard (23.1), Tari Eason (20.1) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (14.1) round out the rotation. Fred VanVleet, at 30.6 minutes, is also day-to-day with a right knee issue.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Smart's status changes before Monday's game. The expected return is listed as Oct. 26, the day of the Hawks game, but he remains day-to-day. Houston has not announced whether he will play. VanVleet (right knee) and Steven Adams (left ankle) are also day-to-day. Tip against Atlanta is 8:30 PM ET on Monday.
Is Marcus Smart playing vs the Hawks on Monday?
Not announced. Smart is day-to-day with a left forearm issue, and his expected return is listed as Oct. 26, the date of the game. The Rockets host the Hawks at 8:30 PM ET.
When will Marcus Smart be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 26. His status is day-to-day, and no further timeline has been announced.