Marcus Smart cleared to play in Game 4 against Bucks

The Boston Celtics are trailing the Milwaukee Bucks 2-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals and have a home game on Monday night that feels like a must-win. Fortunately, they will get a key player back that they have been missing throughout the playoffs.

The Celtics announced on Monday afternoon that Marcus Smart has been cleared to play in Game 4.

Smart has been recovering from a torn oblique he suffered toward the end of the regular season. He’s a scrappy defender who can inject energy into a team in a playoff environment, so he should give the Celtics a big boost.

Kyrie Irving expressed confidence earlier in the postseason that the Celtics could survive without Smart, but they have looked like they needed him over their past two games against the Bucks. Given his toughness, it would not be a surprise if Smart will be playing through some pain just so he can get back to helping his teammates.