Two players - Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo - have recovered from injury and should be available for tonight’s game at Miami. Two others - Eddie House and Kendrick Perkins - missed practice yesterday with flulike symptoms. House will likely miss tonight’s game, but Perkins was expected to travel to Miami, according to coach Doc Rivers.
Pierce (knee infection) and Rondo (hamstring) worked with the first unit at practice yesterday. But the team was shorthanded enough - Marquis Daniels (wrist) and Kevin Garnett (knee) are also out - that assistant coach Tyronn Lue suited up with the reserves, concluding the workout with his left thigh heavily taped.
“I am concerned because [Rondo] hasn’t practiced in five days and Paul even longer,’’ Rivers said. “And then we’re going to go play a team that played pretty well [Monday] night [in a win over Atlanta].
“They’re going to have to be out on the floor at some point; if both can play, we’re going to play them.
“In both cases, if they can go, they almost have to start, especially in Rondo’s case because he’d be warm. We don’t want to have to go down that road where we’re concerned about even taking them out or putting them in; we just want to make sure they’re able to play.’’
Pierce, who has not played since Dec. 22, said, “Good practice, it felt pretty good. Probably not 100 percent but it’s getting better and it’s feeling good enough.
“I got a chance the last couple days to run on the treadmill, been shooting every day, riding the bike every day, then came out and practiced and got up and down the court pretty well. So I’m about as confident as I’m going to be until it gets to 100 percent.
“I’m not feeling any pressure or pain when I push off on it, but like I say, it wasn’t ligament damage, just a matter of the swelling going down and it went down to where I can bend it a lot and have a lot more flexibility than I’ve had the past few days.
“Over the next week or two I’ll get that [timing] back. Thank goodness, I haven’t been out too long, so not too much has went away.
“I talked to doctors, and they said the only side effects are swelling. Infection is gone, so just continue treatment, see how it feels, and go from there.
Garnett is expected to travel with the team but not play against the Heat, Atlanta (Friday), or Toronto (Sunday).
“I wouldn’t be shocked to see us play sloppy, but we’re going to have to figure out a way to win the game,’’ Rivers said. “We were concerned with this stretch when I looked at the schedule when it came out - and that’s when we had all our players.
“We’ve just got to get through it, keep our heads above water during this period. It’s a tough three-game stretch, with guys coming back, guys being sick, guys being injured. But it happens and we just have to work our way through it.’’
Practice concluded with a first unit of Pierce and Brian Scalabrine at forward, Rasheed Wallace at center, and Ray Allen and Rondo at guard. Allen is expected to match up with Dwyane Wade tonight.
“Last game, we had a great rhythm on offense,’’ Allen said of Saturday’s 103-96 win over Toronto. “Everybody was getting good shots and we weren’t forcing shots, bad shots, taking tough shots early - just executing every play to the second and third option. That’s what makes the offense a lot easier, and everybody getting shots.
“With J.R. [Giddens] and Tony [Allen] in there, they’re not used to getting a lot of shots. I’m telling them, when the ball comes to you, don’t hesitate. We’re putting you in a situation where the ball’s swung two or three times, it’s OK to shoot the ball. You’re wide open, so shoot the ball, and it definitely makes the offense look better.
“And we’re not giving them easy stuff off the defense, where they’re running off turnovers and bad shots. We’re able to get back and set up our defense.’’
Ray Allen on the Celtics’ 24-8 record, tied with Cleveland (27-9) for best in the Eastern Conference: “We don’t worry about it. We figure we’re the best team, the team to beat. So every day we’re trying to figure out how to get better, and I think over the course of the season, getting healthy is part of it. Everybody’s got aches and pains, nicks and bruises. We all deal with it, so that’s part of it.’’
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