star kobe

Boston backup guard Tony Allen is back on the practice court as the Celtics prepare for the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coach Doc Rivers said Allen was only supposed to go through the first part of practice on Tuesday, but he was jumping and dunking.

Allen had some success guarding Lakers star Kobe Bryant in the regular season, holding the NBA MVP to 22 points on 6-for-25 shooting.

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers says Tony Allen might not be back from an injury to guard Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant when the NBA finals begin Thursday night.

"It doesn't look good," Rivers said after practice on Monday. "He couldn't get through even the walkthrough portion." Allen had some success against Bryant in the regular season, but the Celtics guard injured his Achilles tendon in a post-practice pickup game during the Eastern Conference finals and hasn't played since.

Lakers star Kobe Bryant received his MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern in a brief ceremony before Los Angeles faced Utah in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals Wednesday night.

"I'm at a loss for words, I don't know what to say," Bryant said as the Staples Center crowd of 18,997 roared its approval and chanted M-V-P.