Pierce finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and five assists against New York, but spent the fourth quarter icing his ankle.
The last thing the Boston Celtics need is another serious injury, especially to Paul Pierce.
So it's a good thing the forward doesn't believe he's badly hurt, after spending the fourth quarter of Sunday's 108-89 loss to the New York Knicks with his right shoe off and a bag of ice on his ankle.
"It’s just a little sore," Pierce said, according to ESPN Boston. "I turned it in the first quarter. It shouldn’t be a problem."
If Pierce really did get hurt in the first quarter, like he says, the injury probably isn't a big issue. He finished with 24 points, 15 rebounds and five assists against New York, basically representing half of Boston's two-man offense along with Jeff Green. According to Basketball-Reference.com, it was just the eighth time in Pierce's career he corralled at least 15 rebounds, including playoffs -- and the first since Nov. 1, 2006, when Pierce's fellow Boston starters included Wally Szczerbiak and Sebastian Telfair.
Despite brushing off the injury's severity, Pierce could get a rest soon, perhaps even Monday when the Celtics visit the Minnesota Timberwolves. Head coach Doc Rivers said he will "probably" elect to give Pierce the night off.
"We’re going to sit him games, for sure," Rivers said. "Very soon."
Pierce called sitting against Minnesota a possibility, adding that he would discuss it with Rivers.