"After having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and sitting out more than two months, Jermaine O'Neal rejoined the Celtics yesterday in Indiana — a short flight from where he had been training in Chicago — and said he would be ready to play as soon as Thursday in San Antonio, though coach Doc Rivers wouldn't commit to that plan.

"I'm able to go,'' O'Neal said. "No limitations.''

Rivers said, "I think Jermaine has his own personal time clock. We'll see. I hope, that would be great.''"