"On Opening Day, the Celtics already were dealing with injuries. Paul Pierce reported to Madison Square Garden yesterday and didn't even bother to work out.

Pierce missed most of training camp with a bone bruise in his right heel, which is mending slowly. He was expected to test the foot before making a decision, but he never got into his practice gear.

"Knowing that the season is so [long], with back-to-back games, it just wouldn't be worth it to go out there and have any setbacks today,'' said Pierce. "Google 'bone bruises' and you know it'll say it can be anywhere between three days, a week, three months, depending on the amount of pain in there.

"I don't see it being a month or two. Right now I'm day to day. And that's the reason I came on the trip.''"