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Celtics' Brad Stevens On Isaiah Thomas: 'I'll Be Surprised If He Plays Friday'

BOSTON (CBS) -- The Celtics will be without guard Isaiah Thomas when they take on the Magic in Orlando on Wednesday, and his groin injury could keep him out of Friday night's game as well.

Thomas was back in Boston undergoing an MRI as his team got ready for the Magic on Wednesday morning. Head coach Brad Stevens told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Zolak & Bertrand (with Hardy and Dan Shaughnessy filling in for the sick hosts) that the guard is very sore, and is day-to-day going forward.

"He's ultra-tough as we all know, and doesn't like to miss anything -- practice or a game, regardless. I'll be surprised if he plays Friday [against Toronto in Boston], but I guess nothing surprises me with Isaiah," said Stevens.

Barring a last-minute change, the Celtics will turn to Marcus Smart in their starting five against the Magic. Stevens explained that going with Smart, who has made 56 starts over his three-year career, will allow Terry Rozier to remain in his bench role.

"He's started before and can handle the point guard duties," Stevens said of Smart. "We'll be a little bit bigger, obviously, and these guys are extremely physical. [Orlando] just won four out of five on the road. ... We'll have to be really good on both ends tonight to win."

Stevens also discussed Monday's loss to Houston, Marcus Smart's flopping and reminisced about his days as a kid from Indiana watching Larry Bird rule the NBA world: 

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