BOSTONRay Allen remains day-to-day for the Boston Celtics.
But it seems everyday is bringing him just that much closer to being the late-game, dagger-shooting Ray Allen that Celtics fans have come to embrace and this time of year, expect to come up with big plays.
He certainly did in Boston's 115-111 overtime loss at Miami in Game Two of the Eastern Conference finals. They'll need more of Allen's clutch shooting on Friday in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against Miami. Boston trails 2-0 in the best-of-seven series.
Rajon Rondo was on a different level than anyone else that night, finishing with a career-high 44 points to go with 10 assists and eight rebounds in what was one of the greatest games played by a Celtic in the postseason.
But it was the 3-pointer by Allen late in the fourth quarter that tied the score and ultimately, forced the game into overtime.
"Miami doesn't leave me often, but they left me that time," Allen said.
The 6-foot-5 guard, still dealing with bone spurs in his right ankle, has been in the midst of his worst postseason in terms of scoring (9.8) and shooting from both the field (39.7) and from 3-point range (27.9) in addition to a just 61.3 percent from the free throw line.
Boston Celtics
But in Boston's Game 2 loss, Allen's 13 points were the second-highest scoring output he has had in the playoffs this year. More important, he was moving with the kind of fluidity that has seldom been seen during this postseason run by the Celtics.
For them to come away with a victory, Allen will need to build off of what was about as close to the Ray Allen of old that the C's have seen lately.
"The whole game I felt good," Allen said. "I had really no issues moving around the floor. As the game went on, it was almost like if I forget about it, then it's a good thing, and I forgot about my foot, and eventually I just kept playing and I didn't have any issues."
And that bodes well for both Allen and the Celtics heading into a must-win game Friday night.