Celtics Notebook

Perkins back in business

By Marc J. Spears

Globe Staff / December 29, 2008

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SACRAMENTO - Forward Kendrick Perkins lived up to his promise of needing just one game off when he returned to action last night, scoring 7 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in 27 minutes of the Celtics' 108-63 blowout of the Kings.

Perkins missed Friday's game at Golden State with a strained left shoulder. While the Celtics listed the 6-foot-10-inch, 280-pounder as day to day, he said before the Golden State game he planned on returning last night against Sacramento and didn't think the injury was a major concern. Perkins not only returned, but before the contest he said the short rest helped his shoulder feel "great now."

"It was more soreness than anything," Perkins said. "A few days of rest helps it a lot. It feels normal right now."

The news was just as good after the game. "It felt all right," Perkins said. "Initially in the game my timing was off a little bit. But other than that I felt good."

Perkins's shoulder will be a constant concern because of offseason surgery. He said it was the second time he had soreness in the muscle in the back of the shoulder since his surgery. But with rehabilitation and weightlifting, he doesn't expect any major problems and he wasn't wearing protective gear.

"It's nothing I should really be concerned about," Perkins said. "All I can do is keep doing my lifting and go from there."

Coach Doc Rivers said, "I didn't think it was that serious. I didn't know if he was going to be out one or two games. We were prepared either way."

Utah trip

Team president Danny Ainge will be in Utah soon to scout college games and to watch rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker with the Development League's Utah Flash at the upcoming league showcase.

With no timetable for their return, Giddens and Walker are making the best of their time with the Flash and hope to impress Ainge during his first visit this season.

"I have the utmost respect for Mr. Ainge," said Giddens via phone. "He believed in me. For him to come out is a big deal. He drafted Bill and me and we want to show him we are who he drafted."

Walker added, "It will definitely be exciting to see him at the game."

Giddens was averaging 18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, and a .563 field goal percentage through Dec. 26. The 30th pick in the first round of this year's draft has been hampered lately by a sprained right wrist.

"Everything is going good," Giddens said. "I'm getting minutes and time. I re-sprained my wrist and it's getting inflamed. But [the NBDL] lets us get into game shape, and right now we are going through our midseason fighting through injuries, losing streaks."

Walker was averaging 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1 steal and a .529 field goal percentage through Dec. 26. The 47th pick in the second round said he has been concentrating on defense.

"I've been developing at a good pace," Walker said. "I'm learning about the defensive three-second rule. I'm learning more how to guard over screens and in pick and rolls."

Efficient outing

Kevin Garnett played only 23 minutes, finishing with 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting and 11 rebounds. Rivers said he hopes to lower Garnett's minutes the rest of the season to help keep him strong, and Garnett said he was fine with whatever Rivers wanted to do . . . When asked if the Celtics have been fatigued of late, Rivers said, "We played more games than anyone else in the NBA right now. I guarantee at the end everyone will play 82. I know that's a cute way of answering the question. There is nothing you can do about it. You go through some type of fatigue during the season at different points. And we're going through it right now. We just have to get through it."

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com