Paul Pierce left Thursday night's game against the Milwaukee Bucks with an apparent sprained left big toe, the Boston Celtics report. He went to the locker room with Dr. Brian McKeon after he came down grimacing following his first made 3-pointer of the night. The team reports that the forward is unlikely to return.
Official word: Paul Pierce has been diagnosed with a sprained left big toe and is unlikely to return to tonight's game.
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 27, 2012
If Pierce doesn't return, it will be difficult to tell how much of that decision has to do with the fact that the Celtics are in the playoffs and don't need to take any unnecessary risks with a star player. A win would give them home court advantage in the first round, but either way they will be playing the Atlanta Hawks to open the 2012 NBA Playoffs.
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