When it comes to Paui Pierce's return, before Wednesday's heartbreaking 107-104 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Celtics coach Doc Rivers mentioned January 19 as a possible best-case-scenario return date. Still, he made it clear that nothing was set in stone.

"Obviously, that's a little longer than we anticipated, and that's not a guaranteed date," Rivers said of Pierce's return, and he added that he wasn't even sure whether January 19 was the date Pierce would be ready to play or just to return to practice.

Pierce, who has missed the last six games since an MRI revealed a stress reaction in his left foot, is reportedly still wearing a boot on his ailing wheel "for another week" according to Rivers, but he is able to walk without crutches.

The original estimate on Pierce's return was "2-3 weeks" when he first showed up at practice on crutches on December 21, the day after failing to get off a shot in traffic against the Golden State Warriors.