Celtics' Al Horford Hopes To Make Return Monday vs. Pelicans
BOSTON (CBS) -- Two weeks after suffering a concussion in practice, Celtics' big man Al Horford is hoping to return to the floor for Monday night's game against the Pelicans.
But Horford wouldn't make any promises when speaking with reporters before Monday's shootaround in New Orleans, and said he'd have a better feel for his status following the morning's session.
"There's certain things that you look for and you want to make sure that you feel well and that there's nothing lingering or anything," he told reporters, according to the Celtics's team website. "I gotta go out there and feel 100 percent. And I'm still trying to get there."
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Horford has missed the last six games after taking a blow to the head in practice back on October 31. He did not return to the practice floor until late last week, but he was able to go through the pregame warmups Saturday in Indiana, a good step towards his return.
"I think that for me that's a really good sign and I'm happy I'm able to do that," Horford said. "I hear that when people come back from these things they have a hard time doing those workouts."
The Celtics have gone 3-3 without Horford, who averaged 12 points and five rebounds over the first three games of the season, his first in Boston after signing a four-year, $133 million deal over the summer. This would be a great time for the Celtics to get their prized free agent signing back, with tough matchups against the Golden State Warriors and Detroit Pistons on the schedule this week and a meeting with the San Antonio Spurs next Friday.
Elsewhere on the injury front, guard Isaiah Thomas told reporters that a sprained middle finger on his left (shooting) hand will not keep him from playing Monday night.
"I just gotta work around it," Thomas told reporters at his locker with his finger wrapped up. "I'll figure it out today and just try to make adjustments."
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