WALTHAM -- Paul Pierce won't play in Wednesday's final exhibition game against the Raptors and there is now "concern" in the words of coach Doc Rivers that the captain may not be available for the regular season opener against the Knicks on Christmas Day.
"I’m concerned, not long-term, but I’m concerned short-term," Rivers said. "We have those two games right off the bat and he’s gone one practice and that’s basically it. So, yeah I’m concerned about it."
Pierce has missed most of training camp with what has been described as a sore right heel. Rivers said that Pierce worked out on Monday while the rest of the team was off.
"He went real hard [on Monday] and it’s just real sore," Rivers said. "We just want him to rest. The problem with that is it will be a lot of rest and then he may be ready but with no [practice time], that’s scary; and if he’s not [ready], he’s not."
Rivers said that Pierce would probably try to practice again on Friday and the team will reevaluate.
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