The Boston Celtics should have two of their best defensive players back in the lineup Thursday night when they play the new-look Brooklyn Nets on the road.
Celtics head coach Ime Udoka told reporters Wednesday that guard Marcus Smart and center Robert Williams both practiced and are expected to play versus the Nets.
Smart suffered a right ankle sprain in last week's win over the Philadelphia 76ers. It forced him to miss last week's loss to the Detroit Pistons. Williams also missed the Pistons defeat with right calf tightness.
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Getting both players back would be a huge boost to Boston's defense -- which helped propel the franchise to a nine-game win streak that was snapped by the Pistons. The Celtics have the league's No. 1 defensive rating since Jan. 1.
The return of Smart and Williams would give the Udoka the option of closing games with those two players, plus Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and newly acquired guard Derrick White. That's a pretty strong five-man lineup, one with plenty of talent and versatility at both ends of the court.