BOSTONThe Boston Celtics will once again head into battle short-handed at the shooting guard position as Ray Allen will sit out for a sixth straight game.
"He went through shoot-around and just didn't feel like moving," said C's coach Doc Rivers.
Allen had tests earlier on the ankle, which came back showing no structural damage or broken bones.
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It is unclear if additional tests will be performed as the ankle injury appears to be lingering longer than expected.
"You can see him moving around, he's just not ready to play," Rivers said. "So we're hoping, we have two days off after today, by Wednesday (vs. the San Antonio Spurs) he'll be on the floor."
Allen's absence becomes even more of a concern while his backup, Mickael Pietrus, remains out with a concussion suffered at Philadelphia on March 23.
Rivers revealed on Sunday that Pietrus is suffering from a Grade-3 concussion, which generally takes the longest amount of time to heal.
Last week Rivers said he didn't anticipate having Pietrus back anytime before the playoffs.
Pietrus was at the Garden prior to Sunday's game, wearing dark sunglasses because he still has sensitivity issues with bright lights.
"It's his first day, venturing out into the light, literally," Rivers said. "He's going to say hi to the guys, and then we'll get him back in the car headed home."
As far as the battery of tests he'll have to take prior to returning to action, Rivers said there has been no timetable for when that process will begin.
"It's great to see him," Rivers said. "He texts me a lot now; that's terrific. He's able to do that. He's going to be out a while."