Perkins can play in Game 6
Boston’s Kendrick Perkins will be eligible to play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Orlando Magic.
The NBA on Thursday rescinded one of the two technical fouls assessed to Celtics center Kendrick Perkins in Boston’s loss to Orlando in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals Wednesday night, meaning Perkins will be available to play in Friday’s Game 6.
The NBA took back the second of the two technicals, which occurred with 36.1 seconds remaining in the first half and resulted in Perkins’ automatic ejection. Referee Eddie F. Rush tagged Perkins with the technical for arguing a foul call.
That call had also given Perkins seven technical fouls in the playoffs, which by league rules resulted in an automatic one-game suspension. The rescinding of the technical left Perkins at six, which makes him eligible for Game 6 but nevertheless leaves him on the threshold of a suspension.
Perkins picked up his first technical Wednesday for what appeared to be an inadvertent elbow to the body of Marcin Gortat in the first half. Both players were assessed with technicals.
The ruling by the NBA has to come as a relief to the Celtics, who face the possibility of playing Game 6 without forward Glen Davis, who suffered a concussion on Wednesday.
The NBA also upgraded Paul Pierce’s foul on Magic guard J.J. Redick with 8:12 remaining in the fourth quarter to a flagrant foul 1. Pierce appeared to push Redick after fouling him.
Perkins wasn’t in the locker room following the game, but Rivers expressed his dismay at the technical calls on his behalf.
“I didn’t think he deserved either one, but he got them,” said Rivers. “You know what happens, it’s amazing. We talked about this before the game, the double technical thing. Perk was bending down, picking the ball up, and got a tech for being around. I don’t know how he got that tech.
“The other tech, listen, when you’re arguing, it was awful quick, but they called it. I did think Eddie Rush realized once he called it, he couldn’t rescind the tech because he forgot they had given him the other one. I don’t think Perk would have gotten that one, but that happens.
“Listen, we’ve put ourselves in that position, and like I told our guys, you can’t make any excuses. If they don’t stand, then somebody else just has to step forward for you and that’s just the way it is.”
Even Gortat seemed uncertain if the first call warranted a technical for either party.
