Doc: ‘We know (Dooling's) capable'

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MILWAUKEEBoston Celtics guard Keyon Dooling is about as familiar a Celtic as there is on this roster with Milwaukee's Bradley Center.

Dooling was traded to Boston from Milwaukee during the offseason, after having spent the entire 2010-2011 season with the Bucks.

That familiarity certainly paid off for the C's on Thursday, with Dooling's contributions helping Boston pull away for a 100-91 win over the Bucks.

Dooling, who is averaging a career-low 3.6 points per game this season, had eight points on Thursday which included a perfect 4-for-4 from the field.

"Keyon, knocking down shots, that's what we're going to need," said Paul Pierce. "Especially with playoffs right around the corner, it's going to have to come from everybody."

The C's have been extremely patient with Dooling, who has struggled on the floor with his play, and off the floor with injuries.

Of the players currently in the Celtics' rotation -- Dooling is part of that rotation -- he has missed more games (16) with a sore right knee (nine games) and a right hip pointer (seven games).

He has essentially missed half the season because of injuries. And when you throw in the shortened preseason with minimal time for training camp, it's not all that shocking that the 31-year-old has struggled.

Along with a career-low scoring average this year, Dooling is also shooting a career-low from the field (37.6 percent) and from 3-point range (28.8 percent).

So a 4-for-4 shooting night was, well, kind of a big deal.

"He needed that," said C's coach Doc Rivers. "We needed that from him. We know he's capable."

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