SACRAMENTO, Calif.In any other season, a twisted ankle wouldn't be that big a deal.
But with all the health-related setbacks the Boston Celtics have had this year, no injury can be taken for granted.
So while Paul Pierce said his mild right ankle sprain "should be fine," the C's have to be cautiously optimistic about the Captain's availability for tonight's game against Denver.
"We'll see how it feels," he said. "Just a little twist; hopefully it doesn't swell up on the plane."
Pierce suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Boston's 120-95 loss when he stepped on the foot of Kings guard Marcus Thornton.
With the game so lopsided, coach Doc Rivers said he was going to take Pierce out of the game shortly after the injury occurred.
The 6-foot-7 Pierce missed the first three games of the season because of a bruised right heel.