Boston Celtics’ centre Nenad Krstic walks out of the game against San Antonio Spurs with knee injury
The Boston Celtics centre, Nenad Krstic, hurt his right knee in a 107-97 victory against the NBA leading San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night at AT&T Center.
When the Celtics coach Doc Rivers was asked about the condition of Krstic’s injury, he said that it is too early to say anything.
"I do not know." "He is out, obviously, this weekend, then an MRI. That is as far as I am going to go," Rivers said.
After making a basket, late in the second quarter the 27-year-old twisted his leg while landing. He immediately clutched his knee and winced in pain on the court.
The Celtics team trainer Ed Lacerte helped him on his way to the locker room. Krstic did not return to the court for rest of the period. Prior to injury, Krstic had contributed 13 points, two steals, and three assists.
By looking into the severity of the injury, the management has decided Krstic would undergo an MRI on Saturday, the same day Celtics return to Boston at the end of
their road trip.
Celtics forward Paul Pierce said that Krstic has been asked to take full rest in order to recover and hoped that the Serbian star will be ready to display his wits
once the play-offs start. “Hopefully Krstic is not too hurt and he will be back in a few days or a week or however long he takes” Pierce said "But we want to be healthy going into the playoffs, bottom line,”
Krstic joined the Celtics squad on 24 February after a controversial trade that sent the centre Kendrick Perkins to the Oklahoma City Thunders. Krstic was pushed
into a starting lineup to cover up for Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal, who are out of the team with injuries. The Serbian professional basketball player started all 18 games for the Celtics since his arrival. He is averaging 7.1 points and 5.2 boards
in his last 10 games of the current season.
Centre-forward Jermaine made his first appearance since January 10, after recovering from the knee injury. The team management was pleased with his return to the
lineup but his minutes were limited. He could only add five points, one assist, and one rebound in the victory, playing for 11 minutes.The Celtics are hopeful about the return of Shaquille O’Neal before the playoffs as well.
Boston needs Krstic and Shaquille to be healthy for the playoffs as both of them have the ability to provide the opponents with some tough time around the court.
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