BOSTONThe Boston Celtics will once again go into battle short-handed with key reserves Mickael Pietrus and Chris Wilcox out for tonight's game against Portland.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Pietrus has a sore right knee - the same knee Pietrus had surgery on this past summer.
The 6-foot-6 wing did not participate in the team's shoot-around on Friday morning.
As for Wilcox, he is out due to a personal matter.
With them out, look for the Celtics to lean on Marquis Daniels and Sasha Pavlovic to fill the void left by Pietrus.
Boston will likely turn to JaJuan Johnson and Greg Stiemsma to provide some of the energy that Wilcox has been bringing to the floor lately.
In addition to Pietrus and Wilcox, the Celtics will also be missing Jermaine O'Neal (wrist). He has yet to decide on whether he will have surgery, or take a cortisone shot which would likely keep him out for a couple weeks afterward. Rivers said prior to tonight's game against Portland that there's no update on O'Neal.
Earlier, Rivers said that he wasn't anticipating having O'Neal back, adding that anything he provided would be "a bonus."