Pierce Sent Home

Bulpett reports:

Paul Pierce is on his way back to Boston to have his left elbow examined. The Celtic captain awoke this morning with bad swelling in the elbow and a high fever. 
 
He will be checked by team physician Brian McKeon when he lands later this afternoon. At that time, the severity of the problem will be determined. 
 
“And the hits just keep on coming,’’ deadpanned Doc Rivers. 
 
This is, by the way, the same elbow on which Pierce had offseason surgery to alleviate bursitis that dogged him last year (he missed the last three games after playing through pain for weeks). 
 
Pierce had made the trip here with the Celtics [team stats] to further his comeback from a left foot stress reaction. But when he came down for the team meeting prior to shootaround this morning, it was evident he was in bad shape. 
 
“He said (Monday) that his elbow was bothering him,’’ said Rivers. “They looked at it but it wasn’t bad at all. But then this morning he came in and we were like, ‘Oh, my gosh.’ Eddie (Lacerte, the trainer) wanted him out of here quick. 
 
“We’ll see,’’ the coach added. “It’s infected and it’s pretty big. And he’s got a pretty high fever.’’