Celtics' Allen likely to miss game

Jan 8, 2008 - 7:18 PM WALTHAM, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen, who has a pinched nerve in his neck, is expected to miss Wednesday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

The pinched nerve is causing numbness in Allen's right hand and a tingling feeling in his right arm.

Tony Allen is expected start in Ray Allen's place, the Celtics said Tuesday.

"I started noticing three of my fingers started getting numb and then yesterday my pinkie started getting discolored," Ray Allen said. "That's when I realized it was something worse than I thought."

Allen has played in 30 of 32 games this season, averaging 18 points for the rampaging Celtics, who have won nine in a row and own the NBA's best record at 29-3.

"It's not anything that's going to last," Boston coach Doc Rivers said following Tuesday's practice. "From my understanding, it's day-to-day."

Boston also could be without rookie center Glen Davis, who missed practice Tuesday due to a sore right knee.

"He'll be fine, too," Rivers said. "(It's) just precautionary. We've done that all year. If it's a nick, it's not worth playing or practicing."