Avery Bradley diagnosed with hamstring strain, 'very unlikely' for rest of round

Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley has been diagnosed with a significant right hamstring strain that he suffered mid-way through the fourth quarter of Game 1 in the Celtics' first-round series with the Atlanta Hawks, and is listed as doubtful for the rest of the first round.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Sunday morning that Bradley is "very unlikely" to be back for the Hawks' series. After the game, Stevens said that Bradley "heard a pop" when the injury occurred.

The Celtics went on to lose the game by one point despite a late-game 19-point comeback, and will play Game 2 on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Bradley is the second-leading scorer for the Celtics (15.2 points per game), and is also the their best perimeter defender. Marcus Smart and Evan Turner will likely fill in at shooting guard in Bradley's absence. Both players see a lot of minutes, even with Bradley healthy.

Considering the pace of play the two teams prefer, the Celtics are more prone to using a small lineup as it is. Turner, who was the second pick overall in the 2010 draft, was asked about his enhanced role if Bradley’s injury was long-term and Turner relished the idea of more minutes.

Stevens said the Celtics “were playing small anyways” with a lineup of four guards/wings around a big man because of the speed matchup with Atlanta.

The Celtics were 3-3 in the six games this season where Bradley did not play.

Atlanta better not relax. The Washington Wizards played the Hawks three games in the 2014-15 playoffs without John Wall and Washington won one of those games and narrowly lost another.

Contributing: Ray Glier. Follow AJ Neuharth-Keusch on Twitter @tweetAJNK