WALTHAM, Mass. — Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Tony Allen might not be back from an injury to guard Lakers star Kobe Bryant when the NBA Finals begin Thursday night.
“It doesn’t look good,” Rivers said after practice Monday. “He couldn’t get through even the walkthrough portion.”
Allen had some success against Bryant in the regular season, but the Celtics guard injured his Achilles tendon in a post-practice pickup game during the Eastern Conference finals and hasn’t played since.
Allen started the regular-season game against the Lakers in Boston on Dec. 30 — one of just 11 games he started this season — and helped hold the NBA MVP to 22 points on 6-for-25 shooting.
“He’s played good in two games against the Lakers,” Rivers said. “But if he’s not healthy, he’s not healthy.”
Mourning hasn’t ruled out return
DAVIE, Fla. — Heat center Alonzo Mourning, whose season ended when he suffered severe knee and leg injuries in a game in December, said if his body gets healthy, he’d like to come back and play one more season before calling it a career.
“I want to come back and play another year,” Mourning said. “I just want to get my body right to do it. I need to get my body where my mind is.”
It’s not entirely up to Mourning. His contract with the Heat ends June 30, and he almost certainly wouldn’t want to play for any other team.
“I still, in my mind, feel I can contribute,” said Mourning, 38, who averaged six points and 3.7 rebounds in 25 games this season for the Heat.
Magic GM Smith gets extension.
The Magic signed general manager Otis Smith and assistant Dave Twardzik to multiyear contract extensions. Terms were not disclosed.
The Associated Press
