DENVER — Virtually the entire Boston Celtics traveling party circled the stretcher that was set up at the free-throw line inside the Pepsi Center.
As one minute turned into two — then five, then eight — players, coaches and staff members stared down at Kemba Walker, the Celtics point guard who was lying motionless in the same spot where he had crumpled to the ground after his head collided with teammate Semi Ojeleye’s chest.
Finally, as Walker was wheeled off the floor and out of the arena en route to an area hospital, players and coaches peeled away and headed back to the bench. Marcus Smart, however, remained frozen, gazing at the tunnel into which his first-year backcourt mate had just disappeared.
Smart stood there for several moments before shaking his head and finally retreating.
“It was tough,” Smart said. “It hurt and seeing anybody carried off on the stretcher after getting hurt like that, it’s…
