Pierce says thumb injury ‘manageable’

LOS ANGELES - X-rays on Paul Pierce’s dislocated right thumb have come back negative, and the Celtics captain is hoping the injury won’t be a long-term problem.

Pierce dislocated the thumb twice in last night’s 93-91 loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles—once in the third quarter and again in the fourth.

Pierce said after the game that the thumb was “definitely sore,“ but also described it as “manageable.“ He finished the game with 20 points but was only 7-19 from the field.

The Celtics are already missing one of their so-called Big Three. Kevin Garnett has a knee injury and isn’t expected back for about two weeks.