The Los Angeles Lakers will get have reinforcements in the back court Thursday night as they face the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in a nationally televised game on TNT. Guard Steve Blake, who has missed 13 games with rib injury (specifically a costochaondral fracture), will play against Boston.
Head coach Mike Brown, back from his one-game suspension for bumping referee Zach Zarba in Utah, said before the game that Blake would have no restrictions on his minutes, per Mike Trudell of NBA.com. Brown said of Blake, "He hasn't had a lot of practice time so he'll have to play his way through it."
Blake is averaging 7.3 points and 2.8 assists in 24.3 minutes per game this season, while shooting 35.4% from three-point range. Here are Thursday's probable starting lineups:
Lakers (14-11)
Point Guard: Derek Fisher
Shooting Guard: Kobe Bryant
Small Forward: Metta World Peace
Power Forward: Pau Gasol
Center: Andrew Bynum
Celtics (14-10)
Point Guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting Guard: Ray Allen
Small Forward: Paul Pierce
Power Forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Jermaine O`Neal
Thursday night's 5 p.m. PST game will be televised by TNT. For more Lakers news and information, be sure to read Silver Screen and Roll.