Out West, West is out

LOS ANGELES -- Guard Delonte West missed last night's 10 0 -77 loss to the Clippers because of a back injury he suffered late in the second quarter of Tuesday's defeat to the Nuggets in Denver.

The Celtics called it a "game-time decision," though West knew he wouldn't take the floor when he woke up yesterday and felt pain while walking. West expects to be back in the lineup tomorrow at Golden State.

"I feel significantly better than yesterday," said West. " I just need to give it a day. The back spasms are gone and it's more of a bone bruise [on my tailbone]."

Given the way West plays, throwing his small frame into every play, it might make some sense for the guard to hold back in some situations. But coach Doc Rivers wouldn't hear of West changing his style.

"There are going to be days he'll get hurt," said Rivers. "But what makes Delonte, Delonte is his heart and how hard he plays. That's going to win games. I would never tell him not to play the way he plays."

In other injury news, Wally Szczerbiak approached Rivers after warm-ups and told him he could play. And Szczerbiak checked into the game with 8 minutes 24 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Szczerbiak, who finished with 9 points and six rebounds in 28 minutes, had missed three games after spraining his right ankle against Charlotte Dec. 16.

Kendrick Perkins was the first big man off the bench in his return from plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Michael Olowokandi (small abdominal tear) also played. "This is the game to get bigs back, playing the Clippers," said Rivers. "Obviously, I don't have huge expectations for either guy."

Dressed in street clothes and wearing a protective boot on his injured left foot (stress reaction), Paul Pierce cheered on the Celtics from the end of the bench. He spent the holidays here with friends and family. If the Celtics are lucky, Pierce could be back a week from today.

Al Jefferson again found himself the center of attention for defenders. Jefferson expects double teams, quickly learning what happens to a team's top offensive option. In the absence of Pierce and Szczerbiak, Jefferson has played well at both ends, posting double-doubles against Philadelphia Dec. 22 (20 points, 14 rebounds), at Denver Tuesday night (16 points, career-high 15 rebounds), and against the Clippers (10 points, 14 rebounds) .

Jefferson was unaware he had established a career high in rebounds against the Nuggets, which reflects his more workmanlike approach on the glass.

"I've got to get rebounds," said Jefferson. " Paul was a big rebounder for us and he's out."

Jefferson has also taken on another Pierce role, finding the open man. Or at least that's what he's trying to do. The power forward-turned-center had a pair of assists against Denver.

"I feel like I'm doing a great job passing the ball out and re-posting," he said. "We've just got to be ready to shoot the ball, cut to the basket, and I've got to be ready to find guys. It's something we're going to get through. I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job not trying to force anything and try to keep simple. I'm learning a whole lot. I'm learning to be patient on offense. I'm learning to be a better passer."

But while Jefferson gives himself a passing grade, he has found himself back in foul trouble. He picked up five personals against the Nuggets, adding to the foul trouble the team experienced almost from the opening tip.

In the silver-lining department, there has been the play of Allan Ray. The rookie guard always believed he could make an impact if given playing time. With Sebastian Telfair and Tony Allen landing in early foul trouble and the number of available healthy players reduced to nine once West exited the Denver game, Ray received the opportunity he had waited for and made the most of it. In 18 minutes off the bench, Ray scored 12 points (5 for 10), proving he could be an asset.

"The main thing the coaches wanted is for me to be aggressive," said Ray. "I'm a shooter and they wanted me to shoot the ball. When I don't do it, the tell me, 'That's what you do. Why are you not shooting it?' I just tried to come out there and be aggressive."

Having worked through his nerves in a few appearances earlier this season, Ray has found it easier to take advantage of the opportunity.

"I'm getting more involved in practice now, getting more into the flow of things," said Ray, who did not score in six-plus minutes last night . "So, I'm definitely starting to feel a little bit more comfortable. I couldn't pinpoint a time when I expected to be playing, but it feels good."