NBA: Celts' Tony Allen doubtful for opener

WALTHAM, Mass. - Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers says Tony Allen may 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 yesterday. "He couldn't get through even the walk-through 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.

Allen started the regular-season game against the Lakers in Boston on Dec. 30 - one of just 11 games he started this year - and helped hold the NBA MVP to 22 points on 6-for-25 shooting.

"He's played good in two games against the Lakers," Rivers said. "But if he's not healthy, he's not healthy."

Mourning may return.

For months, Alonzo Mourning insisted this season would be his last in the NBA.

Unless, of course, it isn't.

Mourning, whose season ended when he suffered severe knee and leg injuries in a game in December, said that if his body gets healthy, he'd like to play one more season before finally calling it a career.

"I just want to get my body right to do it. I need to get my body where my mind is," said Mourning, while appearing at Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor's charity golf event.

Mourning, 38, has said several times previously that a return wasn't out of the question - but yesterday's comments may have been his strongest yet.

It's not entirely up to Mourning; his contract with the Heat ends June 30, and he almost certainly wouldn't want to play for any other team.

Magic extend GM's contract.

The Orlando Magic signed general manager Otis Smith to a multiyear contract extension.

It was a reward for building a team that won the franchise's first division title in 12 years, and advanced in the playoffs for the first time since that last title. Terms were not disclosed.

Smith was promoted to full GM in 2006, after sharing the title for a season with Dave Twardzik, who remained assistant general manager. The Magic also extended Twardzik's agreement, the team said.