Celtics C Perkins to miss at least three games

Jan 13, 2009 - 1:31 AM BOSTON (Ticker) -- The same shoulder injury that knocked out Boston Celtics starting center Kendrick Perkins from the NBA Finals last June will sideline him for the next week.

Perkins will miss at least the next three games with a left shoulder injury suffered last Friday in Cleveland. Perkins had the same shoulder scoped and cleaned over the summer.

"It's just one of those injuries," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before Monday night's game.

"He's had it now, his third year. Once it goes out, it's basically a situation where we're going to have to be lucky. It's going to go back out. When and what day, we have no idea but we know it will. It's just bum luck."

Perkins had started 37 of Boston's first 38 games before missing Sunday's game in Toronto. He is averaging 8.8 points and 8.1 rebounds.

"It's not career-ending but it can be a career problem and has been," Rivers said. "Last year, we got away with it and then we had the worst timing in Game Five (of the Finals). You just don't know with that injury. I've had it. It's not a fun injury."

The injuries don't end there for the suddenly beleaguered Celtics. Defensive specialist Tony Allen was wearing a protective boot on his strained right ankle.

"They're out until the early part of next week, maybe longer," Rivers said of Perkins and Allen.

Captain Paul Pierce is also nursing a sore right knee but continues to play with the discomfort, starting Monday night.

"I was concerned," Rivers said before Monday's game. "I actually thought it was 50-50 coming to the arena. He's fine. We'll see what he can give us."