Celtics G Allen suffers hyperextended right thumb

Feb 12, 2009 - 5:23 AM NEW ORLEANS (Ticker) -- Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen suffered a hyperextended right thumb in the first quarter of Wednesday's 89-77 win over the New Orleans Hornets.

The sharpshooter hurt his thumb when he got it caught in the jersey of teammate Kendrick Perkins underneath the basket. The thumb stiffened up so much in the second quarter that Allen did not play in the second half.

He is questionable to play Thursday at the Dallas Mavericks.

"I tried to catch the ball and I couldn't because it was jammed all the way down," Allen said.

"As I was running, I started yanking on it and tried to hold it in. I tried to catch the ball but I couldn't hold onto the ball any more. ... I'm going to try and play tomorrow. I'll get out there and work out and see how I feel."

Allen scored just one point and missed all three of his shots from the field, including an 0-of-2 performance from the arc, in 18 minutes before his departure.

The UConn product said he has jammed fingers before but never has had a thumb injury like the one he suffered against the Hornets.

"With the thumb, I can't really hold onto the ball," he said.