ESPN.com reports that Paul Pierce was relieved to hear that Magic star Tracy McGrady wouldn't be playing against his Boston Celtics, and he was all smiles after the game when he notched his first career triple double.

"I'll take it,'' Pierce said of McGrady's absence. "Who wants the leading scorer playing?''

Pierce finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists in the game, but more importantly the Celtics escaped with the victory.

"I just took it upon myself to really elevate my game,'' Pierce said. "I haven't had 13 assists since high school.''

The Associated Press reports that a former Seattle Supersonics assistant coach claims he is owed money by Vin Baker and is going to court to get paid.

Steven Gordon, a Sonics special assignments coach until last year claims that Baker promised him $1 million if he could help work a trade to get Baker out of Seattle. In a lawsuit files on Jan 17, Gordon says he "devoted time and resources'' speaking to various NBA teams last season to promote a possible trade on Baker's behalf.

Baker was traded to Boston with Shammond Williams in exchange for Kenny Anderson, Vitaly Potapenko and Joe Forte last summer. Gordon claims he had discussions with the Celtics that facilitated the trade, and that Baker reneged on a promise to pay him $1 million if the deal was completed.

Gordon is seeking $1 million in damages from Baker, along with $46,000 a month for the duration of Baker's NBA contract, which runs through 2005-06, saying he agreed to become Baker's business partner.

Baker had no comment Friday after Boston?s 77-58 victory over Denver.

Mark Spears of the Denver Post reports on Mark Blount and his return to Boston.

Marc Spears of the Denver Post reports on Juwan Howard and his status for tonights Denver @ Boston match-up.  The Celtics Antoine Walker is out with a strained knee.

The Nugs take on the C's tonight at the Fleet Center in Boston.  Game time is 5:30 MST and the game is on 950 AM and Fox sports net.

Celtics forward Antoine Walker may be out for the next two weeks rehabilitating his sprained knee, but this did not stop the versatile big man from receiving two lots of good news yesterday.

Walker found out yesterday that there was not a tear in his injured knee, meaning he'll be back a lot sooner.

``To hear that I did not have a tear was great news,'' he said. ``Obviously I'm relieved. My season was on the line. Now I just want to get it right. It's still very sore, but right now I'm just concerned about getting the swelling down.

``This is not a good time for me to get injured,'' he added. ``I was playing great basketball. It's tough, but I'm happy that this was not a (torn anterior cruciate ligament).''

``Two weeks is on the high end, I think,'' he said prior to his Celtics game against the Bucks last night. ``I'll be back before that.''

Walker will need to get well if he wants to make it to All-Star Weekend in early February.  Walker is a chance to be a starter for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, the lineups to be announced later tonight, in addition to being named as part of the three point competition contestants on All-Star Saturday.

``I'm really looking forward to it - I'm excited,'' he said of the 3-point shootout. ``I have to get more than Paul (Pierce). I'll be back for all of that - everything.''

The beast was born here. Now the Hawks' road losing streak has reached a point where it rivals this city's John Hancock Tower.

No way the Hawks would avoid their 12th consecutive road loss -- a string which started with a double-overtime loss here in the Fleet Center on Nov. 22.

Not with Jason Terry having more turnovers (six) than points (four). Not with seldom-used Celtics reserve Kedrick Brown beating Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo Ratliff to the basket for an offensive rebound. Not with Celtics guard Shammond Williams blocking Dan Dickau's shot without even jumping.

The Hawks did nothing to reverse the losing trend and actually sunk to a new low, posting their worst effort in nearly two years in an 86-66 loss.

Shira Springer of the Boston Globe reports: This morning, The Celtics will decide whether or not to offer Mikki Moore a second 10-day contract.

In this morning's Boston Herald, Mark Murphy reported that Celtics had already decided not to offer more a second 10-day deal but concern over Tony Battie's sore right knee has caused the Celtics to reconsider.

Since joining the Celtics on January 6th, Moore has played just seven total minutes and has no statistics to his name.

In other Celtics news, Shira Springer reports: If Grant Long's left hand checks out with doctors in Atlanta tomorrow, the Celtics will likely sign him to a contract.

Long was the Celtics' first choice to fill the 13th roster spot but the injury prevented a signing.

''It's a lot better,'' said Long, reached by phone last night. ''I'm not medically inclined to give an opinion. I'm scheduled to see my doctor and we'll see then. I can't do anything until I see him. But there's not a whole lot I can't do. [The Celtics] have actually said that they would like to reevaluate [the injury].''

The Celtics' medical staff examined the injury Jan. 5. Since then, Long has been running, keeping up his conditioning, and working on his shooting with his good hand. When healthy, Long believes he could be a good addition.

''As a player I've always had the attitude that there's not a whole lot a coach can ask of you so I can play for anyone,'' said Long. ''He can ask you to give your best effort every night and that's what I do and you get whatever that generates. The thing that's always consistent [with my play] is my effort.''

Shira Springer of the Boston Globe reports: On the first day that NBA teams can sign players to 10-day contracts, the Boston Celtics aren't going to waste anytime in signing someone to help their often injury-depleted roster.

Today, the Celtics will sign center/forward Mikki Moore to a 10-day contract today, expanding their roster to 13 players.

However, Grant Long was the Celtics' first choice until it was learned he had a broken left hand.

''We had a desire to bring in Grant Long, but Grant has a broken hand, so we are not going to sign a player with a broken hand,'' said coach Jim O'Brien. ''He's coming in to have our medical people examine the break and give us the best understanding as to when [he'll] be ready to play. We are in a situation where if Mikki Moore is the guy, then there will be no Grant Long.

''If Grant Long is able to play 20 days from now, and we don't think that what Mikki is giving us is [good enough], then we'll look at our options and they may or may not include Grant. My hope is that we don't have to be in a position to sign Grant, that Moore will be everything that we want, that he will be the guy that will be our 13th man. If Long was healthy, he would be coming in right now, but he's not, so we're bringing in the next-best thing.''

As for Moore, he had been playing with the NBDL's Roanoke Dazzle, and was widely regarded as the top player in the minor leagues this season. He was averaging 15.0 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks for the Dazzle.

Forward Ruben Wolkowyski is likely to be the player that goes on the Injured list.

Shira Springer of the Boston Globe reports that the Celtics will finally get help in the frontcourt. They are expected to sign 7-foot, 230 pound center Mikki Moore to a 10-day contract today.

The team was looking for a veteran player who could play multiple frontcourt positions. Moore will undergo a physical today and is expected to be in uniform for tonight?s game against the Wizards.

The Celtics were seriously considering Grant Long for the contract, but passed when it was learned that he has a broken hand. Long may still be an option depending on how fast his hand heals and Moore?s performance.

''We had a desire to bring in Grant Long, but Grant has a broken hand, so we are not going to sign a player with a broken hand,'' said coach Jim O'Brien. ''He's coming in to have our medical people examine the break and give us the best understanding as to when [he'll] be ready to play. We are in a situation where if Mikki Moore is the guy, then there will be no Grant Long.

''If Grant Long is able to play 20 days from now, and we don't think that what Mikki is giving us is [good enough], then we'll look at our options and they may or may not include Grant. My hope is that we don't have to be in a position to sign Grant, that Moore will be everything that we want, that he will be the guy that will be our 13th man. If Long was healthy, he would be coming in right now, but he's not, so we're bringing in the next-best thing.''

Moore played with Detroit and San Antonio over the last four years and is in the middle of a great season in the NBDL where he is averaging 15.0 points per game, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks for the Roanoke Dazzle.