BOSTON -- Avery Bradley left the Celtics locker room with his right shoulder wrapped in ice Thursday night.
The young guard wanted to play in the Celtics overtime battle against the Lakers, but was sidelined for the first time this season with soreness. Bradley suffered the injury in Tuesdays game against the Charlotte Bobcats.
I banged it up and its just been hurting me lately, he told CSNNE.com following the Celtics 88-87 loss. I really didnt decide not to play tonight. If Doc (Rivers) put me in, he was going to put me in. But I told him I was ready, he knew I was hurting so he was just looking out for me, didnt want me to injure it anymore.
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Bradley has appeared in 23 games this season, averaging 4.0 points, 1.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game. In addition to starting eight games in place of Rajon Rondo, he has also given the Celtics a defensive spark off the bench.
On Thursday, rookie ETwaun Moore played nearly nine minutes behind Rondo, who was on the court for 45 minutes.
While Bradley hopes to play on Friday against the Raptors in Toronto, he is being cautious. The Celtics play two days later on Sunday at home against the Chicago Bulls.
Its just sore, he said. Im going to try. Im just day by day. Im going to keep trying before the game, pregame, and just see if its ready.