For the second time in three games, Brian Scalabrine will not be available to the Celtics because of a bad back.

Scalabrine was one of three inactives for tonight’s game against Utah at the Garden. Tony Allen [right ankle] and Glen Davis [right thumb] are also scratched.

Bill Walker [right knee], who returned this week to practice, is in uniform for the first time this season.

WALTHAM  –  Brian Scalabrine watched Tuesday’s practice on the sideline, still slowed by back spasms that forced him to miss last Friday’s game against Phoenix.

“I don’t anticipate him playing this week but with the backs you just never know,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said following practice.

Scalabrine returned on Saturday night against the Nets and scored five points in 20 minutes off the bench, including a 3-pointer.

The Celtics will be without forward Brian Scalabrine for their game against the Suns at TD Garden. Celtics coach Doc Rivers announced that Scalabrine came down with bad back spasms on Friday. “He was having awful spasms,” Rivers said an hour before the game.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said back-up forward Brian Scalabrine is getting close to returning to action. Scalabrine turned his right ankle when he inadvertently stepped on a camera at Madison Square Garden in the last week of the preseason. 

“I don’t know the answer,” said Rivers, who has been talking to team trainer Ed Lacerte about his condition. “I know he’s going to dress tonight but he’s not playing. I didn’t ask Eddie. I knew he wasn’t playing in the first two. I think he’s close from the last talk I had with him.”

While Rivers said Shelden Williams would have seen more action against the big lineup of the Cavaliers on Tuesday, Rivers said he would like to have had Scalabrine against the speedier Bobcats.

“Tonight would be a great game to have Scal because they play so many small lineups at the four [position], this would be perfect game for Scal,” Rivers added. “But he’s injured and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

On Wednesday night, all eyes were on Kevin Garnett as he returned to the court for the first time in more than six months during the Celtics’ preseason opener against the Rockets in Hidalgo, Texas. Although Garnett’s playing time was limited, his knee injury looked out of mind when he drained the first shot of the game.

But Garnett was not the only player who returned to the Celtics looking to improve upon last season. Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis lost weight, Rajon Rondo bulked up, and Ray Allen claims to be in the best shape of his career. See how the members of the 2008-09 team fared as they began the 2009-10 season.

Kevin Garnett
Last game: March 25 vs. Orlando Magic
17 minutes, 4 points (2-5 FG), 8 rebounds, 1 assist
Preseason opener: 13 minutes, 6 points (2-6 FG), 5 rebounds, 1 assist

Paul Pierce
Last game: May 17 vs. Orlando Magic
39 minutes, 16 points (4-13 FG), 7-10 FT, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
Preseason opener: 16 minutes, 8 points (2-6 FG), 4-4 FT, 1 rebound, 0 assist

Ray Allen
Last game: May 17 vs. Orlando Magic
41 minutes, 23 points (9-18 FG), 3-6 3PG, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Preseason opener: 17 minutes, 8 points (3-6 FG), 0-2 3PG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist

Rajon Rondo
Last game: May 17 vs. Orlando Magic
37 minutes, 10 points (4-10 FG), 2-2 FT, 6 rebounds, 10 assists
Preseason opener: 17 minutes, 7 points (1-4 FG), 5-8 FT, 1 rebound, 3 assists

Kendrick Perkins
Last game: May 17 vs. Orlando Magic
39 minutes, 8 points (3-11 FG), 15 rebounds, 2 blocks
Preseason opener: 14 minutes, 3 points (1-2 FG), 3 rebounds, 2 blocks

Glen Davis
Last game: May 17 vs. Orlando Magic
31 minutes, 13 points (4-7 FG), 4 rebounds
Preseason opener: 23 minutes, 9 points (3-6 FG), 4 rebounds

Eddie House
Last game: May 17 vs. Orlando Magic
17 minutes, 2 points (1-3 FG), 0-1 3PG, 0 assists
Preseason opener: 21 minutes, 9 points (3-6 FG), 1-2 3PG, 0 assists

Brian Scalabrine
Last game: May 17 vs. Orlando Magic
13 minutes, 2 points (1-5 FG), 1 rebound, 2 assists
Preaseason opener: 18 minutes, 4 points (1-2 FG), 2 rebounds, 0 assists

J.R. Giddens
Last game: March 6 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
1 minute, 0 points (0-0 FG), 1 rebound, 1 steal
Preseason opener: 13 minutes, 1 point (0-1 FG), 1 rebound, 0 steals

Tony Allen (ankle) did not play against the Rockets. Visit WEEI.com’s Green Street for live coverage from the TD Garden on Friday night as the Celtics take on the Knicks in their preseason home-opener.

After suffering three concussions in less than a month last season, Brian Scalabrine wants to play it safe. That’s why he chose not to play at all this summer.

“I didn’t play any basketball,” Scalabrine told WEEI.com last week at the USI Shamrock Classic. “I didn’t want to risk getting a concussion in that environment. So I just didn’t play any basketball and then I’ve been playing since I got back here.”

Scalabrine played it safe this summer

The Celtics forward began playing basketball nearly three weeks ago when he returned from Washington to Boston for the upcoming season. Up until that point he had been following the training routine outlined by the team’s strength and conditioning coach, Bryan Doo.

Scalabrine suffered a series of concussions over the course of a month last January through February. The first came on January 25 when he was dealt a blow to the chin by Dirk Nowitzki in a game against the Dallas Mavericks. Two days later he banged his head during practice. Scalabrine returned the next month only to suffer a neck injury, one that he would later say was “99 percent” caused by a concussion, during a February 23 game against the Denver Nuggets. Doctors later determined he had postconcussion syndrome.

He missed the remainder of the regular season and returned for the playoffs sporting a protective headband.

While these injuries kept Scalabrine off the courts this summer, he won’t let them hold him back this season.

“We’re just going to take it day by day and see what happens,” he said. “The only time you’re really going to know is until you take a blow. It’s going to happen one time or another, just how I respond to it is going to be key.”

Big Baby tees off

The Boston Celtics teed off for charity before they tipped off the regular season.

On Thursday current and former players along with members of the organization raised over $150,000 in the Shamrock Foundation’s second annual USI Shamrock Classic, presented by Consolidated Printing, at Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord, MA.

Ray Allen, Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine, Bill Walker, and J.R. Giddens, head coach Doc Rivers, and President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge were among those who participated. They were joined by former Celtics Tommy Heinsohn, Bob Cousy and Dana Barros, as well as co-owners Wyc Grousbeck, Stephen Pagliuca, and Bob Epstein.

“It was a great day at Nashawtuc and even better day for the many children who are supported by the Shamrock Foundation,” Pagliuca said in a team statement. “We are very thankful to our sponsors and donors who supported this event. This support means even more in today’s tough economy.”

Allen added, “My teammates and I enjoyed playing golf to aid these wonderful charities. Thank you to everyone that contributed to the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation.”

All proceeds from the event, which included a live and silent auction, went toward the to the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, benefiting Perkins School for the Blind, Boston Children’s, Horizons for Homeless Children, the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (MSPCC), and Berklee College of Music.

(l-r) Bill Walker, Ray Allen, Brian Scalabrine golf for charity