BOSTON - Avery Bradley, who has been dealing with a left shoulder injury, won't play for the Boston Celtics against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals Series on Monday night at TD Garden, coach Doc Rivers confirmed.
"He's out," said Rivers, who called Bradley the Celtics' defensive captain and anchor.
Bradley was held out of practice on Sunday after his left shoulder popped out for the fourth time this postseason in Boston's disheartening 92-83 loss to Philadelphia in Game 4 on Friday night, but the Celtics' guard was on the court for shootaround Monday morning.
"It's just tough. It really is," said Rivers (via WEEI). "I swear a lot of people would not be playing, and the only reason he is is because he wants to," Doc Rivers said on Sunday before the team conducted practice. "I am concerned at some point that he may not be able to anymore. We don't know what game that is, we don't know what day he can finish it. We can keep going all the way and he can play [or] tomorrow could be his last game."
Bradley hasn't missed a postseason game for the Celtics this season, and is averaging 6.7 points, 2.0 rebounds in 10 games. Against the Sixers, Bradley is averaging 6.0 points.
Rivers also confirmed that Paul Pierce (knee) and Ray Allen (ankle) would play in Game 5.
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