Prigioni out, Copeland in for Knicks in Game 1

By foxsports
Published

The New York Knicks were without starting guard Pablo Prigioni in their playoff opener, going with rookie Chris Copeland against the Boston Celtics.

Prigioni sprained his right ankle Wednesday in the regular-season finale. Coach Mike Woodson says Saturday that Prigioni has been running and ''coming along nicely,'' but wanted to give him a few more days off.

The Knicks were 16-2 when Prigioni, a 35-year-old Argentine in his rookie NBA season, was in the starting lineup.

Copeland, also a rookie, closed the season with consecutive 30-point games and was the Eastern Conference rookie of the month for April.