Celtics’ Smart ruled out in Philly with ankle sprain

PHILADELPHIA – Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart suffered a right ankle sprain in the second quarter of Tuesday night’s 135-87 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center and did not return.

Smart drove down the lane and stepped onto the foot of 76ers center Joel Embiid, bending his ankle inward awkwardly and tumbling to the ground in a heap.

After spending several moments on the court in pain, he eventually got up and hobbled to the bench. Then he returned to the court, took his two free throws — missing both — and exited the game, going to the locker room with the help of a trainer.

Boston’s dramatic resurgence in the past few weeks coincided with Smart’s return from a quad injury. Boston has now won 11 of its past 12 games and has the best plus-minus of any team in the league by significant margin over that span.

Smart, 27, who signed a contract extension this past offseason with Boston — the only team he’s played for since being drafted sixth overall by the Celtics in 2014 — entered Tuesday averaging 11.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists.