Practice notes

After a 98-93 victory over the Detroit Pistons and a Philadelphia 76ers loss to the Charlotte Bobcats, the Celtics officially clinched a playoff spot last night. They currently sit in the seventh seed in the East, two games behind the Chicago Bulls for the sixth seed and two-and-a-half games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the fifth seed.

Boston has seven games left, four at home and three on the road. The Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers are the only teams they play that have a record better than .500.

With all that in mind, here are some notes from today's practice.

* The fact that the Celtics officially clinched a playoff spot did not come as a surprise to anyone in the Celtics' locker room. Just ask Jason Terry. "There was never any doubt in my mind, or anybody in the locker room, or in the coaching staff, that we wouldn’t be in the playoffs," Terry said. "It’s good to be solidified, but we’ve still got some work to do. Good practice time coming up here for the next week and a half, and then it’s on. The show begins."

* Paul Pierce told reporters this morning that he tweaked his right ankle in last night's game and if there was a game today, he would not play unless it was a playoff game. Pierce rolled his right ankle on Sunday against the New York Knicks and spent the fourth quarter icing it on the bench. He missed the following game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but coach Doc Rivers said that was due to personal reasons. Pierce returned to the floor last night and scored 17 points on 5-of-14 from the field. Pierce should play tomorrow versus the Cavaliers.

* Pierce's personal reason was the birth of his third child, Prince Paul Pierce. His wife, Julie, gave birth at 8:21 p.m. on Tuesday.

* Rivers said in his weekly appearance on sports radio WEEI that Garnett will return to action soon. He hinted that his return could come as early as tomorrow night when the Celtics host the Cleveland Cavaliers. "He'll play soon," Rivers said. "I don't know if he'll play Friday, but I think he'll be back maybe as early as Sunday." Garnett has missed the last seven games with left ankle inflammation.

* Rivers told reporters at practice that Jeff Green is a permanent starter. "I think he's earned that," Rivers said. No kidding, Doc. Rivers also said that Green would start at various positions. In 11 games as a starter this season, Green is averaging 22.5 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and shooting 56.3%.