Shocking nobody, the team has shut down Pierce. Souza reports:
Rivers said he met with Pierce and Celtics executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge shortly before his pregame meeting with the media and it was determined that Pierce was probably done.
“I think we’re going to shut Paul down the rest of the year,†he said.
Rivers said the fact that there will be no more practices before next Wednesday’s finale was a contributing factor along with Pierce’s season-long battles with various injuries.
“If he twisted my arm and really wanted to play, then we’d see,†Rivers allowed.
Pierce declined a media request to talk before the game.