BOSTONRay Allen was on the TD Garden floor hours before tip-off, knocking down shot after shot after shot.
In his mind, tonight was going to be the night when he would return to the Boston Celtics' lineup.
But his body - specifically, his left ankle - had other plans.
Allen said the ankle isn't where he's comfortable playing on it, which means he'll miss his third straight game tonight.
"I shot today, and I felt pretty good shooting," Allen said. "But I still have a little I think it's still a little weak. I'll go at it tomorrow, and try to go through a couple different routines, cutting back and forth, doing everything I can on the court and then go back and see how I feel on Sunday."
In addition to Allen, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the team will also be without Rajon Rondo (right wrist), Jermaine O'Neal (left knee) and Keyon Dooling who suffered a hip pointer injury in Boston's 91-83 win at Orlando on Thursday night.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers is optimistic that some of his injured players will return to action on Sunday when the C's host Cleveland.
Boston Celtics
"I don't know which ones," Rivers said. "Everybody's real close, but no one is ready today."
Allen, who was in Boston along with his wife welcoming in the birth of their son, Wystan Ryan Allen, had a chance to catch some of Boston's come-from-behind win over the Magic.
Like many, Allen has been impressed by the way the C's backups have made the most of their increased playing time with himself and other key players out with injuries.
"What we've said all along, we have a group of guys that know how to play," Allen said. "As long as we continue to go out there and work together, and make it happen, togetherat times when we're bad we look helter-skelter. But when we're good, we got it all focused in and everybody's doing their job."