WALTHAM, Mass. – Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe will miss the rest of the playoffs with a torn ligament in his left knee.
Powe has a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus, coach Doc Rivers said after practice Tuesday.
Powe, who is a free agent at the end of this season, will have surgery and spend the next 9-12 months recovering.
“That is just a tough injury for a kid who has done everything right,” Rivers said.
With star Kevin Garnett already out with a strained right knee, the injury to another power forward hits the Celtics at a bad time. Boston beat Chicago 118-115 on Monday night to even their best-of-seven series at one game apiece.
“I feel bad for him,” Bulls guard Ben Gordon said. “Anytime somebody has that severe an injury, that’s every athlete’s worst nightmare. Our best wishes go out to him, but they still have other big guys.”
Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine, who is recovering from concussions and has played just 60 minutes since Jan. 25, has been cleared to practice on Wednesday. Point guard Rajon Rondo is nursing a sore ankle and won’t practice, but Rivers said he will play in Game 3 on Thursday in Chicago.
“We have all hands on deck now,” Rivers said.
Rivers said Powe hurt himself on a spin move but stayed on the court trying to play.
“He played 3 minutes with a torn ACL,” Rivers said. “That says so much about Leon Powe the person.”
Powe averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game this season, missing 13 straight games down the stretch with a different injury in his right knee.
Rubio enters draft
BARCELONA, Spain – Spanish teenager Ricky Rubio has decided to enter the NBA draft.
The 18-year-old Rubio, who was under contract with Spanish club DKV Joventut through 2011, has been rated as one of the top picks for the June 25 draft.
“I’m going into the draft because I’ve been told that I’ll go high. That’s why I’ve entered,” Rubio said Tuesday. “No basketball player can say no to a high draft spot. That reassures you going over there, the security that your name is recognized.”
Rubio has averaged 9.9 points and 5.7 assists this season for Joventut. The 6-foot-2 point guard turns 19 in October, meeting the NBA’s minimum age requirement.