Red Cross for Green
Perkins must sit, Pierce plays on
TORONTO - Celtics trainer Ed Lacerte might have to order more training tables if the injuries continue the way they have been of late.
The Celtics were without starting center Kendrick Perkins and guard Tony Allen during their 94-88 win here yesterday. Forward Paul Pierce is uncertain whether he will play tonight against Toronto in Boston because of an aggravation of a right knee injury. Guard Rajon Rondo, who has been hampered by a shoulder injury, also is expected to play after suffering scratches on his legs when he fell into the crowd.
"You've got to understand this is a long season," Pierce said. "Every year there are going to be injuries. Hopefully, [Perkins] can get healthy, because we are going to need him in the long run. Obviously, you want to be healthy all [season] long. But the key is being healthy down the stretch run of the season and going into the playoffs, when it really counts. Now we are trying to get through the season with as many healthy bodies as possible."
Pierce injured his right knee in the first quarter when he banged knees with teammate Brian Scalabrine. Pierce, who has yet to miss a game this season, finished with 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 blocks in 41 minutes.
"Scal fell into the knee that has been sore for the last few weeks," Pierce said. "It's the same knee that I hyperextended. It's just a little sore.
"I was a little [cautious] on it in the game after I got the hit. But I just wanted to be out there to help my team . . . I'm going see how it feels after the plane ride, after some rest and treatment. Hopefully, it will get better overnight."
Perkins missed his second game of the season with a left shoulder strain. Although coach Doc Rivers was less optimistic, Perkins expects to play tonight, adding that he doesn't need extended rest. Perkins had offseason surgery on the same shoulder.
"It's sore. Every time you strain that muscle it's sore," Perkins said. "The biggest thing [about the injury is] it's not like two days or three days after the injury, but five days after the injury I'm back to normal. You never know if the scar tissue is all the way healed. I'm not going to go [yesterday] and try to make a push for [tonight]."
Perkins missed the Golden State game Dec. 26 after aggravating the shoulder the day earlier against the Lakers. He aggravated it Friday when he was fouled by Cleveland's Ben Wallace.
Perkins received electrical stimulation, ice, and massage yesterday.
"The craziest thing about it is I've taken harder hits than that," Perkins said. "When it happened and the game is going on, I'm cool. It's just after the game and the next day, it's sore. It's expected to be sore any time you strain a muscle. So within next five days it feels like I'm back to 100 percent again."
Allen, who didn't make the two-game road trip, missed his fourth straight game with a sprained right ankle. Rivers is uncertain whether Allen will play tonight but said he would play if physically able. Allen has missed six games this season, all because of the ankle.
"We miss another guard, really," Rivers said. "Tony has been an average defender for us. He should be a great defender, and that's something we have to improve on, but we're just down a guard in size."
The Raptors will be without guard Jose Calderon (hamstring) and center Jermaine O'Neal (right knee contusion) tonight as neither made the trip to Boston. Calderon started yesterday but wasn't able to finish, compiling 6 points and three assists in 22 minutes. O'Neal has been out since Dec. 31.
Smoltz listened to his old friend.
"It really was between them and the Yankees and Atlanta," Rivers said. "His tough part was it was very difficult to leave Atlanta. I just told him, 'You paid your time there, you had a hell of a career there. You have a chance to win another one right now. You have to seize that moment.' I told him since I'm in Boston, why don't you come here?
"I thought [Sox manager] Terry [Francona] does such a great job with veteran pitchers, I thought it would be a great place for him."
Rivers, who lives in downtown Boston, also offered Smoltz a place to crash if needed.
"It's funny, I offered him my apartment," Rivers said. "I told him he could use it after the season. I wasn't going to live with him. He started laughing. I told him, 'You make enough money. You don't have to live in an apartment with me.' I just told him about Terry and the Red Sox organization. I told him it's a no-brainer."
"I just went baseline and [Pierce] gave me a great pass," Rondo said. "I beat [Toronto's Chris] Bosh to the rim before [Solomon] could get over to block the shot."
As nice as the slam was, the 6-foot-1-inch guard said it wasn't better than his dunk over Detroit's Jason Maxiell last season.
Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears@globe.com 