BOSTONRajon Rondo, who has missed the last eight games due to a right wrist injury, will make his return tonight against the New York Knicks.
Rondo completed his pre-game shooting routine, and went back to the locker room to have the medical staff take one more look at the wrist before being cleared.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers confirmed that Rondo will start tonight.
"He's playing," Rivers said.
As far as how much he'll play, Rivers was going to play that by ear.
"I don't know. Go by how he's playing, really," Rivers said. "Your eyes will tell you. Hopefully we'll make the right choice."
Rivers said earlier this week that Rondo's return would most likely be tonight.
Boston Celtics
In the past few days, Rondo has increased the amount of basketball-related work in the hopes that he would return to the court soon.
Rivers said Rondo has done some one-on-one and two-on-two work.
"It's just different when you haven't played competitive," Rivers said.
Rondo's return not only bolsters the Celtics lineup, but it also makes it more likely that, if asked, he'll accept an invitation to play in the All-Star game in Orlando later this month.
Rondo told CSNNE.com on Tuesday that, if selected by the coaches as an All-Star reserve, he would not play if he couldn't get a few regular season games in in advance.
"If they (coaches) select me and I don't play until Feb. 22 or games before that, there's no way I'm playing in the all-star game," Rondo told CSNNE.com.
Rondo understands his body better than most, which is why he doesn't necessarily expect to pick up where he left off prior to the injury.
"Regardless when I come back, it's not like I'm going to come back 100 percent," Rondo said. "I'm just trying to get as close as whenever I can function. If that's 50 percent, then I'll be back. Right now, I can't function."