BOSTON -- After logging 37 minutes in his return from an ankle injury on Friday, Ray Allen will suit up again on Sunday night for Game 4 of the Boston Celtics - Atlanta Hawks first round series.
Allen was uncomfortable on Saturday following his 13-point performance in Game 3, but was relieved to feel better on Sunday.
It wasnt bad, but even when I walked out, after you ice and you walk out, my ankle just felt like I had to walk sideways, he said. It just felt that tough and that achy. Yesterday, I couldnt do anything yesterday. It was just throbbing. I got in and got treatment. Just all day, it just felt like I was pulling my leg along. But I woke up this morning and I was back right where I hoped Id be. So thats just the cost of doing business, I guess.
After seeing images from test results, Allen recently said surgery was inevitable. But Allen is feeling so much better than expected that he is reconsidering his initial assessment of requiring ankle surgery this offseason.
I know I said that a couple weeks ago, and I believe that just from the pictures, he said. But based on how I feel now and where my body is, I'll revisit getting x-rays, MRI when it's over with and make an assessment then because if I continue on this track and I know I'm getting better, I don't need to have surgery if it's not necessary.
Allen will take his ankle day-by-day and decide whether or not to have surgery when the season is over. After playing 37 minutes in his first game back, he knows things can change any time.
I thought about it (reconsidering surgery) maybe yesterday, the day before yesterday, he said. If the joint shows different things in it based on me, how Im playing, how I feel when Im playing, I dont think theres a need for it. But before it was just too excruciating. It felt like it was the only option. It felt like even as the series was starting, that I wasnt going to be able to play. So Im obviously Im in a differentposition, and tomorrow it could be adifferentscenario. So thats why for me I just take it one day at a time.