Paul Pierce, who missed much of training camp and both of the Boston Celtics’ preseason games with a bruised right heel, won’t play in Sunday’s season opener against the New York Knicks.  Read more after the jump.
The Celtics captain, speaking to media after arriving at Madison Square Garden on Sunday morning, had been “doubtful” entering the game, set for noon ET, according to coach Doc Rivers.
Sasha Pavlovic was to start at small forward in Pierce’s place.
Rivers had noted the team would attempt to put Pierce through a practice before departing for New York on Saturday and would consider playing him — likely in a reserve role — if he gained medical clearance. Rivers said it would come down to the medical staff and trainer Ed Lacerte giving him a green light to play.
“It’s medical staff decision — 100 percent a medical staff decision,” Rivers said. “I think this year it’s really going to have to be that. Because we can’t trust [the player] in that. Because if they do play and risk further injury, then miss some games, that’s [like] 25 games because it’s a shortened season.”
Pavlovic started Wednesday’s exhibition finale and spent much of the week working with the first unit in order to preserve the continuity of the second unit, most notably keeping Marquis Danielswith the reserves in case Rivers operates with a full five-man bench unit on the floor during Sunday’s game.
