Marcus Smart making a hustle play is not an unusual occurrence at a Celtics game. What he did Friday night at TD Garden was incredible, though, even by Smart standards.
With Boston holding a three-point lead over Atlanta and less than 20 seconds remaining in regulation, Smart attempted to save a Celtics possession by diving past the first row of seats for a loose ball. He awkwardly tumbled to the ground, but he quickly bounced back up and escaped without a significant injury.
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The craziest part of the play is Smart seeing a young cancer patient sitting behind the Hawks' bench and contorting his body in order to avoid colliding with the fan.
Marcus Smart just Derek Jeter'd this loose ball. pic.twitter.com/iv5pLekAzz
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) February 8, 2020
Here's a closer look at just how close he came to hitting those kids and how he avoided it pic.twitter.com/pcyKtDnBkP
— John Karalis 🇬🇷 (@RedsArmy_John) February 8, 2020
"It was scary, I'm not gonna lie," Smart said after the game (via John Karalis of MassLive.com). "Thank God for my hair. I probably would have had a concussion if I didn't. I'm not gonna lie. The kid, I was trying to avoid the kid. He was a cancer patient and looks like he just had surgery on his head. So the last thing I wanted to do was hit him. So that's kind of why I turned awkwardly. I was trying to maneuver myself away from him.
"But I'm OK and he's OK, so everybody's all right. So that's good."
Smart later jokingly tweeted that all of the spectators in the first row "need to put your helmets on and drink your beers fast." He added that he was glad no one was hurt.
Look. All y’all on the front row know by now that when I’m in y’all gonna need to put your helmets on and drink your beers fast.
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) February 8, 2020
In all seriousness glad he’s ok and more happy he’s at the game supporting us! That means a lot! He’s one strong kid! 💪🏾☘️ https://t.co/MsDel81H14
The 25-year-old guard also gave the kid his game jersey and arm band, per Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Oh, and Smart finished with nine points, six assists and five rebounds in a 112-107 win. His best play, of course, didn't end up in the box score.
