Allen takes seat, makes a stand.

Byline: Bill Doyle

COLUMN: CELTICS NOTES

BOSTON - Ray Allen sat out his second game in a row last night, but there was a big difference between the two absences.

"This one's free," he said.

Allen didn't have to pay anything to skip last night's game with Paul Pierce to rest for the playoffs, but he was suspended for Tuesday's win at Philadelphia without pay for what Stu Jackson, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations, determined was an intentional elbow to the groin of Cleveland's Anderson Varejao Sunday. Allen makes $17.4 million a year so the suspension cost him $193,000. Allen plans to file a grievance.

"I felt as though it was unjust," he said.

Allen said Jackson told him hitting a player in the groin results in an automatic suspension, but Allen insisted he merely reacted to Varejao throwing him to the floor and that he's not even sure he hit Varejao in the groin because the Cavs forward didn't cringe or bowl over in pain.

Allen shot 95.2 percent (237 of 249) from the foul line this season to break Bill Sharman's 50-year-old franchise record for highest free-throw percentage. Sharman shot 93.2 percent (342 of 367) in 1958-59, one of seven times he led the NBA in free-throw percentage.

"Any time," Allen said, "with this franchise that you can hold any record, it's a magnificent accomplishment with all the Hall of Famers who have played here."

Allen set the team record, but didn't lead the NBA in free-throw percentage. Toronto's Jose Calderon ended the season shooting 98.1 percent (151 of 154), breaking the league record of 95.8 percent by Houston's Calvin Murphy in 1980-81. Denver's Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf shot 95.6 percent in 1993-94, so Allen ended up fourth all-time.

Allen tied his career high by shooting 48 percent from the field, up from 44.5 percent last year, but he was disappointed he fell short of 50 percent.

Kevin Garnett's knee problems forced others to do more and many Celtics responded.

For the second year in a row, Rajon Rondo improved his scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage.

Kendrick Perkins posted career highs in scoring, rebounds and blocks. Perkins also finished the season with 12 technical fouls after collecting nine in his first 19 games.

Glen Davis set career highs in scoring and rebounding, and developed an effective jump shot. Eddie House shot a career-high 44.4 percent on 3s - he was 6 of 9 last night - breaking Danny Ainge's franchise record of 44.3 in 1986-87.

Pierce right there to the end

Pierce missed his first game of the season last night, so no Celtic played in all 82 games. The last Celtic to play in all 82 games was Raef LaFrentz in 2005-06, the only time the injury-prone LaFrentz did so in his 10 years in the NBA.

Pierce was the last Celtic to start all 82 games, in 2004-05. He also did it in 2001-02. No Celtic other than Pierce has started all 82 games since Antoine Walker and Kenny Anderson both did in 1999-2000.

Pierce finished the season averaging 20.5 points after averaging 19.8 last year. Pierce has averaged 20 or more for the Celtics eight times, tying John Havlicek for the second most in franchise history. Larry Bird averaged 20 or more 11 times.

Powe honored as Sixth Star

Leon Powe topped an online vote and received the Comcast Sports Net Sixth Star Award. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. He returned to the lineup Tuesday at Philadelphia after missing the previous 12 games with a sprained right knee.

Powe's contract expires at season's end and Celtics fans can only hope he doesn't follow the trend of many past Sixth Stars. Al Jefferson (2007) Erick Strickland ('02), Bryant Stith ('01) and David Wesley ('97) did not return to the team the season following their wins and of the last 14 winners before Powe, only Rondo and Pierce remained with the Celtics a year and a half after receiving the award.

NAME: BOSTON CELTICS