BOSTON (Ticker)—Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce says he will “definitely” be ready to go for Game Two of the NBA Finals on Sunday night in Boston.
Pierce sprained his right knee when he collided with teammate Kendrick Perkins midway through the third quarter of Game One on Thursday night, needing to be taken off the court in a wheelchair before making a game-deciding return later in the quarter.
“I did a lot of ice and steam throughout the day (Friday),” Pierce said on Saturday afternoon. “Swelling is down a little. There’s still some stiffness, can’t quite all the way bend it like I want to, but it’s definitely a step forward from (Friday).”
Pierce plans to get aggressive treatment on the knee up until tip-off Sunday night just after 9 p.m. EDT.
“Continue to do the things I’m doing, ice, steam, rest, probably some laser treatment throughout the day today, (Sunday) throughout the day, and should be ready to go,” he said.
Perkins, the Celtics’ starting center, also indicated that he would be ready to go on Sunday night despite a high sprain of his left ankle, an injury suffered in a separate mishap moments after colliding with Pierce.
“I’m concerned, but you know, I think they’ll both play,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “I don’t know how effective either one will be. They may be very effective. Paul is moving much better today, that’s clear. And so of the two, he’s the guy I’m more optimistic about, just from watching him move around and walk around.”
Rivers was grateful for the extra day of rest on Saturday between Games One and Two.
“If we played today, could either one of them play? It would be dicey, but I think they could,” he said.
But Rivers was still not confident how effective either would be Sunday night.
“Really, I don’t know yet,” Rivers said. “I anticipate them both playing, but I just don’t know yet.”
Rivers held Pierce and Perkins out of practice on Saturday, with Pierce permitted to participate in the team’s walk-through.
“Perk is out today for sure,” Rivers said. “Neither one of them are going to practice today. Paul will be able to go through the walk-through portion of practice. Perk basically can’t do anything for practice. We’ll just wait until tomorrow.”
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