Celtics' Garnett Doubtful For Tuesday vs. Knicks, Could Miss Up To 2 Weeks
BOSTON (CBS) - Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett did not practice with the team on Monday, and it doesn't look like he'll suit up for Tuesday night's game against the New York Knicks either.
Garnett is officially listed as doubtful for Tuesday's tilt with the Knicks in Boston with an ankle injury. He underwent an MRI on his left foot and the results did not raise any red flags. While head coach Doc Rivers hinted that Garnett could miss an extended period of time as the regular season winds down, he isn't concerned about Garnett's health long-term.
"Can he miss 4-5 games? Yeah, that's possible. I don't know that -- but to me, that's not a [long-term] concern," said Rivers. "At the end of the day, he may miss some games, but we're going to err on right side [of caution]."
Shortly after Rivers spoke with the media at the Celtics' practice facilities in Waltham, team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said that Garnett will likely miss two weeks with inflammation in his left ankle, adding the team would like their 36-year-old center to get some rest with the postseason approaching.
Rivers said the team doesn't let him make decisions when it comes to a player's health, but he would go that exact route if it were up to him.
"I can tell you right now, I'm going to say two weeks rest if it's my decision," he said. "They usually never leave it up to me, but if it was my decision, that's where I would go. Because at the end of the day, I want him right and I don't want him half-right."
Garnett has missed three of the last five games with various ailments. He suffered the recent foot injury in Friday night's loss to Dallas, according to Rivers, and sat out Saturday's loss in Memphis.
For the season, Garnett is averaging 14.9 points on 49.1 percent shooting to go with 7.8 rebounds per game.
Guard Courtney Lee also missed practice on Monday after sitting out Saturday night's game with a left ankle injury. Rivers said Lee could possibly play on Tuesday night against New York.
