Celtics notebook

Pierce shrugs off injury

Knee is 'tender' but he says he will be ready for Hawks

Paul Pierce is attended to by teammates (from left) Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, and Kevin Garnett after his knee buckled near the end of the game. Pierce said the injury didn't appear serious. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)

By Frank Dell'Apa

Globe Staff / December 16, 2008

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Paul Pierce was escorted off the court by Glen Davis and Leon Powe in the final minute of the Celtics' 100-91 win over Utah last night with a left knee injury, but he is probable for tomorrow's visit to Atlanta.

"It's a little tender," Pierce said of his left knee. "The knee kind of buckled. I should be all right. I iced it and I'm able to put weight on it, so it should be all right.

"I saw [Kyle] Korver coming down and I tried to get out of the lane and I just landed on the knee and it just went straight back and I was able to back up a little bit to kind of take the pressure off it. It didn't go back too far, so it should be all right."

Numbers keep adding up

The Celtics, who are the first NBA team to start consecutive seasons with a record of 20-2, became the fourth NBA team to win 23 of its first 25 games in a season.

Their 15-game winning streak is fourth on the franchise list behind the 1981-82 squad (18 games), 1959-60 (17), and 1964-65 (16).

House leaves to attend funeral

Guard Eddie House missed last night's game to attend an aunt's funeral. House is expected to return against Atlanta.

"I was surprised he was even at practice [Sunday]," coach Doc Rivers said. "I told him to go home and take care of your business and we'll see you when we see you."

Rivers said the team has a family-first policy and he did not ask House where the funeral services would be .

"You are going to be with your family a lot longer than you are going to be with us," Rivers said.

House is averaging 7.5 points per game.

Tony Allen and Gabe Pruitt filled the backup point guard role behind Rajon Rondo. Allen played 14 minutes, finishing with 1 point. Pruitt had 8 points while seeing nine minutes of action, and hit two of three 3-pointers. "Gabe was absolutely fantastic," Rivers said. "Forget the three. Gabe played good defense. And, to me, that was far more important than if he can make a shot. We know he can shoot."

Grizzlies to free up Walker

Former Celtic forward Antoine Walker said he expects to be bought out of his contract by today by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Celtics are seeking a veteran forward, but NBA sources said Walker will not be considered to be re-signed. Walker, a three-time All-Star in Boston, has not played for the Grizzlies this season. An NBA source said yesterday afternoon that the buyout was being worked on. "I'm hoping to get a buyout," said Walker, who averaged 8 points in 46 games for Minnesota last season. "Then maybe I can go and talk to a few teams and hopefully move on to a better situation." . . . Darius Miles, who spent the preseason with the Celtics, has signed with Memphis. Miles has served one game of a 10-game suspension and could return for his first regular-season NBA game in more than two years Jan. 4 against Dallas.

Victory lap for Phelps

Olympic swimming great Michael Phelps was on hand to see the Celtics' 15th straight win. "It was good to meet him," Pierce said. "He's a great Olympian. We always respect great athletes. He's one of our peers of our generation, we can say down the line to our kids that he was one of the best while we were playing." . . . Celtics rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker have been dominant forces in the NBA Development League, but are expected to spend most of the season with the Utah Flash. Giddens and Walker could return to the Celtics for short stays; they can be sent to the D-League as many as three times. Giddens averaged 17.3 points, 7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2 blocks through seven games. Walker has averaged 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals while shooting 54.5 percent from the field. "I've been watching their games on webcast," Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. "They look good. They're young. Consistency is always an issue." . . . The Celtics will take a nine-game road winning streak to Atlanta. The Celtics had 10-0 away starts to the season in 1960-61 and 1961-62. That was matched by the 1969-70 New York Knicks as the best road starts in league history. All three of those teams lost the 11th road game.

Marc J. Spears of the Globe staff contributed to this report.