The Boston Celtics just might be getting back a big part of its rotation on Tuesday night. Marcus Smart is cleared to play and could see the floor on Tuesday night if he has a good day of practice. Smart tore a tendon in his right thumb on March and initial reports were unclear if he would even be able to play again this year.
He had thumb surgery in mid-March and hoped to return sometime in the playoffs. That timetable shortened to sometime before the end of April, which lines up with him jumping into Boston’s first round series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said on Tuesday morning that Smart is officially cleared for practice and, if he responds well to contact in the run-up to the game he’ll be in the lineup for a pivotal Game 5
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Smart is one of few injured Celtics who actually have a chance to make an impact on Boston this postseason. While Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward have been ruled out for the year, Smart’s return is a huge boost for sure.
The Celtics have made the most of their rotation in the postseason, with Terry Rozier stepping up in the first two games to give the Celtics the lead. But with the series tied at two and the swing game looming, Boston will take all the help it can get on Tuesday night.
