Marcus Smart had been playing his best basketball of the season for the Memphis Grizzlies. His defense was changing games and he had made 16 of his last 35 3-pointers in three consecutive wins.

Smart was averaging a career-high 14.5 points per game before rupturing a tendon in his right ring finger that will cause him to miss at least six weeks of action. This is after Smart already missed 17 games due to a left foot injury suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers.

"His spirits have been pretty good," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said Thursday. "He understands what he has gone through. He has had hand injuries before. He'll pour into the recovery and be OK."

Smart will likely wear a splint for six weeks before ramping up basketball activity and returning to game action. Memphis is already without Derrick Rose and Ja Morant at guard. Desmond Bane, Luke Kennard and Vince Williams Jr. will likely be relied upon going forward.

"We're in a good direction," Williams said. "We just came off a three-game win streak out West. I feel like we can just keep building blocks and keep working hard."

Even though Smart isn't playing, he's actively engaged with everything that is going on with the team. He notably provided a spark earlier this season when he challenged his teammates to play better inside a huddle at a home game in November.

Smart's timeline for re-evaluation lines up around the all-star break. He'll have several more chances to create plays for the Grizzlies, but for now, he'll have to settle for his last play being a made 3-pointer despite a dislocated finger.

"He's one of the toughest guys that I have been around," Jenkins said.

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies react to Marcus Smart injury news