J.R. Smith (heel) will start Sunday's game against the Raptors, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Smith (heel) will start Sunday's game against the Raptors, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Analysis:

Smith missed a pair of games with a partial tear of his left plantar fascia, most recently sitting out Friday against Boston. He'll return as the starting two guard Sunday, pushing Tim Hardaway, Jr. back to the bench. While Smith's presence in the lineup is encouraging, plantar fascia injuries can tend to linger, so his minutes will likely be closely monitored.