INQUIRER Sports

BOSTON ? Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce, last year's NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, will be sidelined for two weeks with an infection in his right knee, the Celtics announced Wednesday.

Pierce, averaging 18.2 points a game, had fluid drained from his knee instead of joining the Celtics as they traveled to Florida for a Christmas Day game against reigning Eastern Conference champion Orlando on Friday.

Pierce complained of soreness after scoring 21 points in a 103-94 victory Tuesday over Indiana.

On a night when the Celtics were missing forward Kevin Garnett due to a bruised right thigh, Pierce missed his first 10 shots but scored seven in a row to break an 86-86 deadlock in the fourth quarter to put Boston ahead for good.

At 22-5, the Celtics have the second-best record in the NBA, one game behind the defending league champion Los Angeles Lakers.