Matt Velazquez | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

BOSTON - Each day throughout the series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics has included questions for injury updates.

When will Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon return from a right plantar fascia tear suffered on March 15? When will Celtics guard Marcus Smart play again following an oblique strain sustained on April 7? Who will get back on the court first?

In Smart's case, the answer came Monday. Smart, who played three-on-three Saturday and took part in the Celtics' practice Sunday, was cleared to play "short stints" in Game 4 at TD Garden, according to coach Brad Stevens.

"I knew he was going to play," Stevens said. "It was one of those things that you have to get approval from the trainers and it's like the thumb-up emoji and that's it. I knew it was probably likely he was going to play, so there wasn't much to talk about today. ...

"There's no question he's excited to be back. People are going to be excited to have him back and that should give us a good lift."

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Smart entered the game in the first quarter to a standing ovation. His missed his first two shots, both three-pointers, as the Bucks dared him to shoot. He then made his third attempt from long range, putting the Celtics up, 25-17, and drawing a roar from the crowd.

That was his final basket of the night, though. Smart finished with three points on 1 of 7 shooting – all from three-point range – in 15 minutes off the bench. By the latter stages of the game, Smart was passing up three-pointers, pump-faking and trying to find a different way to attack Milwaukee's defense.

Milwaukee won the game, 113-101, to take a 3-1 lead in the series.

Smart played in 80 games during the regular season, starting in 60 of them. He averaged 8.9 points, 4.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 27.5 minutes per game while shooting 42.2% overall and a career-best 36.4% on three-pointers.

More importantly, Smart has been called the heart and soul of the Celtics. His five-year career has been filled with hustle plays, frustrating opposing players and spurring the home crowd.

The Bucks experienced Smart's impact in a similar situation during last year's playoffs. With their first-round series tied, 2-2, Smart returned for Game 5 after sitting out following thumb surgery. He provided a clear energy boost, diving for loose balls and revving up the crowd often while recording nine points, five rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 25 minutes in a 92-87 Celtics win.

In three games against the Bucks during the regular season, though, Smart had a decidedly smaller impact. He's averaged 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 29.3 minutes per game, but shot only 5 of 20 (25%) including 1 of 10 on three-pointers.

“We prepare for Boston," Budenholzer said when asked how the Bucks prepared for the possibility of Smart returning to action. "He’s obviously a very good player, very good defensively, does a lot of things on the court to help them, but we kind of play the way we do. Hopefully, we’re prepared for the Celtics.”

In the case of Brogdon, Budenholzer didn't have any further update. Brogdon was expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after tearing the plantar fascia in his right foot. He's still in that window, with Friday representing the eight-week mark.

Brogdon has been able to go through multiple full-court, five-on-five scrimmages but has not yet been cleared to return.