Celtics' Smart available to play vs. Raptors after 8-game absence

Marcus Smart could see the floor Saturday for the first time since Dec. 6.

The Boston Celtics guard has been removed from the team's injury report and will be available against the Toronto Raptors following an eight-game absence due to an infection in both eyes.

Smart recently described the bout of viral conjunctivitis as "hell" and said he feared he was going to lose his sight permanently.

"I thought I was going to go blind for a while," he said, according to ESPN's Tim Bontemps. "I think it was the worst case of viral conjunctivitis that they've seen. So, basically, I was a guinea pig to see how to handle this if it ever happens again to anybody else. It was the worst pain that I've been through in a very long time. I don't wish it on anybody."

The Celtics went 6-2 without their versatile defender and go into Saturday's game in second place in the East.