Groin Injury Sidelines Celtics' Isaiah Thomas Against Magic

BOSTON (CBS) -- Just a few nights ago, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens told basketball fans to invest in NBA League Pass so they could watch Isaiah Thomas do his thing on a nightly basis.

If anyone took Stevens' advice, they'll have to wait another night to watch the offensively gifted guard go to work.

Thomas will miss Wednesday night's game against the Magic in Orlando with a groin injury he suffered during Monday night's loss to the Houston Rockets. Thomas was not present at Wednesday's morning shootaround because he flew back to Boston:

Stevens told 98.5 The Sports Hub that Thomas is considered day-to-day, and the coach would be surprised if he suits up Friday when the Celtics host the Toronto Raptors.

Thomas, who played in all 82 games last season and each of Boston's 21 games this season, suffered the pulled groin in the first half of Monday night's loss. Though Thomas said he'd be fine for Wednesday's game, he admitted the injury slowed him a bit in the defeat.

"A few drives I didn't have the lift," Thomas said after dropping 20 points on the Rockets. "It is what it is. I'll figure it out."

Thomas, who is averaging a career-high 26 points per game this season, missed a key layup late against Houston -- a shot he hits about 99 percent of the time. That could have been a product of the groin injury.

Marcus Smart will likely get the start in place of Thomas on Wednesday. For some added depth in case Thomas had to sit out Wednesday's game, Boston recalled rookie guard Demetrius Jackson from the D-League on Tuesday.

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• Boston Celtics
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• Orlando Magic