NBA teams
Jared Zwerling 11y

J.R. Smith needs 11 stitches

NBA, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics

NEW YORK -- New York Knicks sixth man J.R. Smith needed 11 stitches to patch up a deep cut over his right eye, suffered during the Boston Celtics' 102-96 win over the New York Knicks on Monday night.

The incident happened with 1:08 remaining in the fourth quarter, when Smith and Celtics shooting guard Avery Bradley got tangled up during a loose ball situation, and Bradley fouled Smith. The Knicks' medical staff treated Smith on the sideline by putting a bandage on the wound, and then a headband over that to keep it in place.

"It was definitely inadvertent," said Smith of Bradley's foul. "That's just the way he plays. He plays very aggressive defense and I like to play aggressive basketball, so it was fine."

Smith returned a few minutes later and made one of two free throws. He received the stitches after the game, and told reporters that he wasn't going to miss the rest of the game.

This wasn't the first time the Knicks-Celtics rivalry had a bloody situation from the teams' physical play. On March 21, 2011, in the Celtics' 96-86 win over the Knicks, Carmelo Anthony received five stitches on his left eye, and Ray Allen needed to get seven stitches on his head.

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