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As expected, Marcus Smart is returning to the court Sunday night.

The Boston Celtics' second-year guard missed the team's previous 18 games after suffering a subluxation of the proximal tibiofibular joint in his left knee following a knee-to-knee collision with Brooklyn Nets forward Thomas Robinson on Nov. 20.

Though Smart was expected to return Sunday, don't expect Celtics coach Brad Stevens to lean too heavily on Smart just yet. Stevens still has confidence in the rest of his roster.

Expect Smart to come off the bench against the New York Knicks, who are in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

Thumbnail photo via Mark L. Baer/USA TODAY Sports Images