Kemba Walker eyes return vs. Nets, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart don’t practice

All signs are pointing to Kemba Walker’s post All-Star break absence coming to an end.

Walker, who has been nursing a sore left knee and has missed five straight games, made it through practice Monday with no issues and barring a set back, the plan is for the Celtics point guard to return to action Tuesday against the Brooklyn Nets.

The C’s are going to be careful with Walker’s workload going forward so if he does indeed suit up versus the Nets, he will only play limited minutes. That won’t be an easy adjustment for Walker, who is used to no restrictions on the court, but he knows it’s the right move to make as Walker and the C’s have one eye on the postseason.

“It’s going to be tough playing limited minutes,” Walker said, “but it’s all about the long haul and being healthy when it counts.”

While it looks like the Celtics will get Walker back in a limited fashion, they may be without two other key cogs when they take on the Nets.

Both Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart didn’t practice Monday due to illness and their status for tomorrow night’s game is uncertain.

Tatum is in the midst of playing the best basketball of his career as he averaged 30.7 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists and shot 48.1 percent from beyond the arc over 12 games in February.

Marcus Smart has missed 11 contests already this season and is putting up 12.9 points, 4.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.