BOSTON -- Celtics guard Tony Allen said he's pain free and there will be no limitations when he returns to the lineup Tuesday night against the Bucks.

Allen, who underwent offseason ankle surgery, only to aggravate the ankle in the only preseason game he appeared in, has missed the first 20 games of the 2009-10 season.

"I haven't had any pain the last week," said Allen. "The other day I practiced, put my foot in the ice bucket and it [didn't swell up]."

Allen's return comes at a key time as guard Marquis Daniels heads to the sideline for a few games to rest his injured left wrist / thumb, which he aggravated on the Celtics' recent road trip.

Allen and coach Doc Rivers said the timing is merely coincidental. There had been talk Allen would return to the lineup last week against Charlotte.

As for Tuesday's game, Allen hopes to simply get back into the flow of the game and see how his body responds.

"I'm just trying to get my wind up, playing in this game today," said Allen. "Just trying to get comfortable out there playing with the second unit."

Allen indicated there had been no restrictions put on his minutes Tuesday. He hoped to see double-digits in minutes, but acknowledged his focus is more on the defensive end than trying to dive headfirst into the offense.

"It's not like I'm shooting 25 shots tonight," said Allen. "Just come in there, get my feet up under me, get used to playing with the second unit.

"I want to get those defensive coverages down pat. Know when to sink down on the big man, know when to X out, know when to get over the pick-and-roll, when to get under, when to shoot the gap. There's a lot of defensive schemes, different ones for different players, I just want to be on point for all that."

Allen noted he's come back from injuries in the past, including an ACL injury a few years back. How will he respond to this one?

"This is my first ankle injury, so we'll find out tonight," he said.