(My Sportsbook) - The Boston Celtics hope to have a healthy Paul Pierce in the lineup tonight, when they return home to face the Indiana Pacers at TD Banknorth Garden.

Pierce injured his left thumb in Wednesday's 93-91 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in the finale of a six-game road trip. He finished with 20 points despite having two dislocations in the thumb, and X-rays taken were negative. He is listed as questionable for Friday's game.

Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen each scored 17 points against LA, while Glen Davis recorded 14 points for Boston in the continued absence of Kevin Garnett. Garnett is nursing a strained right knee and is expected to miss at least another week. In addition, Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine (concussion-like symptoms/neck) is out indefinitely.

The Atlantic Division-leading Celtics, the top seed in the East, will also host the Detroit Pistons on this stand and are a solid 24-4 at home this season.

Boston also made a lot of off-court news earlier in the day. First the club strengthened its bench by signing enigmatic guard Stephon Marbury.

Marbury, a former All-Star who alienated Knicks management and the team's fans with his behavior agreed to a buyout of his $20.8 million contract and was waived by New York on Tuesday. The Celtics signed him for a pro-rated share of the veteran's $1.3 million minimum.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Marbury has career averages of 19.7 points and 7.8 assists per game in his 13 NBA seasons. The two time All-Star has averaged 20 or more points in a season seven times and has finished in the NBA's top 5 in assists five times.

"We are very excited to have a player of Stephon's caliber joining our team," Celtics GM Danny Ainge said in a statement. "Our entire organization is confident in the belief that Stephon can play an important role in helping us to win another championship."

The team then suspended guard Gabe Pruitt for two games for conduct detrimental to the team. Pruitt, a second year guard who is averaging 2.3 points in 8.8 minutes per game this season, was arrested earlier in the week in Los Angeles for drunken driving.

"I recognize that my behavior was inappropriate and accept the consequences of my action as determined by the Celtics," Pruitt said.

Indiana has won three of its last four games and handed the Memphis Grizzlies a 104-99 setback Wednesday at Conseco Fieldhouse. T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack each scored 20 points and Jack added six assists for Indiana, which is surprisingly three games off the pace for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Marquis Daniels chipped in 14 points and six rebounds and Troy Murphy posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 boards for the Pacers.

Indiana has been without Mike Dunleavy because of a lingering knee problem and is 7-24 as the visitor this season. Dunleavy has missed the last eight games since making his season debut on January 7.

Boston is 2-1 against the Pacers this season and has won 10 of the last 15 matchups in the series. Indiana has lost in two in a row, six of seven and 10 of its last 14 trips to Beantown.