Tue Jun 17 22:34:41 2008

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Celtics G Allen leaves Game 6, but returns

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Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen left Tuesday's Game 6 of the NBA Finals in the first quarter after being poked in his left eye, but returned in the second.

Allen was driving from the right baseline to the basket and hit a layup, but on the way up he was hit in the eye by the Lakers' Lamar Odom. Allen went to his knees in pain under the basket after the layup with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the quarter. He then jogged off the court to the locker room to be examined before coming back to the bench with 6:05 left in the half. He was reinserted in the game with 4:44 left in the half.

It's been a tough few days for Allen. He sat out the team's shootaround Tuesday following his overnight flight from Los Angeles. Allen stayed behind in Los Angeles on Monday because his toddler son had medical tests due to an unspecified illness.

Boston, which holds a 3-2 series lead, can close out its 17th championship on its home floor tonight. It would mark the Celtics' first title since 1986.