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KEVIN GARNETT MISSING GAMES DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR
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February 23, 2009
- At this rate, Kevin Garnett can take all the time he needs to get healthy. The Boston Celtics handed the
Nuggets one of the worst home losses in their history Monday night, routing Denver 114-76 behind 26 points
from Ray Allen. It was Boston's second game since Garnett strained a muscle in his right knee that is expected
to sidelined him for at least two weeks. Paul Pierce added 22 points for the Celtics, who raced to a 60-37 halftime
lead that rendered the second half a let's-get-it-over-with exercise.
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This was Denver's worst home loss since Feb. 2, 1998, when the Nuggets were routed by Chicago 111-72. The 38-point
margin of defeat tied for the second-biggest home loss since Denver joined the NBA in 1976. "I think it was a
championship team (that) wanted to kick somebody's butt,'' Nuggets coach George Karl said. The Celtics were certainly
motivated to avenge their 94-85 loss to the Nuggets at the Garden in November, one of just four losses at home for
Boston this season.
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. NUGGETS
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"We've been pretty sour about that all year,'' Allen said. "We felt as though we should've won that game,
they stole it from us. We remembered it. ... It's tough to really try to make a connection because from then
to now, both teams are playing totally different basketball. We were focused on what we needed to do because
we're a different team now with Kevin out.'' Rajon Rondo (14 points) said coach Doc Rivers "gave a great
motivational speech. He told us they bullied us last time.'' And this night, the bullies got bullied. "We just
wanted to play great defense, and that's what we did,'' Rivers said. "We felt they were far more physical than
us when they played us at Boston. Our point of emphasis was to come out and battle tonight. This was going to
be a nasty, battle game and we were going to have to be ready for it.'' - NBA.com
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KEVIN GARNETT IS HARDLY MISSED IN CELTICS WIN
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February 22, 2009
- Rajon Rondo was off and running, and Kevin Garnett was hardly missed. Rondo scored a career-high 32 points to go with 10 assists on his
23rd birthday in Boston's 128-108 victory over the Suns on Sunday. "As Rondo goes, this team goes,'' Celtics All-Star Paul Pierce said.
"If he plays as well as he's playing, then there's no way we can lose.'' Each team was without an All-Star starter because of injury. The
Celtics did just fine without Garnett. Phoenix sorely missed Amare Stoudemire. "We've got a lot of work to do,'' Suns point guard Steve Nash
said.
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Ray Allen scored 31 and Pierce 26 in Boston's first game since Garnett went down with a strained muscle in his right knee that is expected
to sidelined him for at least two weeks. "Guys step up and play their roles even better when Kevin is out,'' Rondo said. Phoenix will have a
much tougher time compensating for the loss of leading scorer and rebounder Stoudemire following eye surgery on Friday. He won't be able to
resume physical activity for about eight weeks. The Celtics blistered Phoenix with 63 percent shooting. Rondo made 13-of-18 and Allen 10-of-15.
After going 1-for-8 in the first half, Pierce was 7-for-9 in the second. He was 10-for-10 at the foul line. The catalyst was Rondo. The Suns had
no one who could defend him.
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. SUNS
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It was an end to a tumultuous week for the Suns that began with the firing of coach Terry Porter. His replacement Gentry
returned the team to its old ultra-fast style, and the Suns went on to win three straight under the new coach. But those
were against the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder. The defending NBA champions from Boston, Garnett or no
Garnett, were another matter, especially with Rondo at his best. "First of all, that is a really good basketball team with
or without Kevin Garnett,'' Gentry said. "You can see they don't have a whole lot of weaknesses.'' - NBA.com
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KEVIN GARNETT STRAINS HIS RIGHT KNEE AND DOESN'T RETURN
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February 19, 2009
- Utah outscored Boston 30-19 in the fourth quarter, going 12-for-17 from the floor as the Celtics played without
All-Star forward Kevin Garnett, who strained his right knee late in the second quarter and did not return. Garnett
warmed up before the second half, but the Celtics kept him out as a precaution. Garnett released a statement after
the game, saying he would have the knee re-examined on Friday. "We should have more information at that time.
Obviously, I would much rather be playing instead of giving this statement,'' Garnett said. Boston led by 11 in the
third quarter, but couldn't hold off the Jazz at the end. The Celtics hurt themselves with 19 turnovers and were
19-for-29 from the foul line.
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Rajon Rondo had 15 points and seven assists for Boston, which had a giant scare late in the first half when Garnett hopped to
the locker room on one foot after injuring his right knee. Garnett hurt himself while going up for an alley-oop late in the first
half. He landed gingerly and motioned immediately to the bench for a substitute. He warmed up with his teammates before the second
half, but the Celtics weren't going to take any chances with the superstar for a regular season game when Boston already had the
best record in the Eastern Conference. Even without Garnett, the Celtics managed to pull ahead early in the third quarter despite
getting in early foul trouble. Brian Scalabrine started for Garnett in the third quarter and got four fouls in the first 3:30 of the
period. Williams drew the third when he drove the lane and Scalabrine unsuccessfully tried to get a charge call. Williams made both
free throws to get the Jazz within 49-47, but the Celtics responded by scoring the next eight points.
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. JAZZ
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Pierce hit a 3-pointer with 7:27 left that put Boston up 56-47 and Leon Powe added two free throws before
the Jazz ended the run with a shot by Brewer. The Jazz got within three or four points several times, but
couldn't catch the Celtics until midway through the fourth quarter. Paul Millsap tied it at 76-76 when he
got Kendrick Perkins to bite on a fake and come down on Millsap as he was taking a jumper that banked in off
the glass with 5:44 left in the game, then made the free throw to convert the three-point play. "Millsap's play
gave us a one-point lead and I think we just kept at it when we saw we had a chance to win the ballgame,''
Sloan said. - NBA.com
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KEVIN GARNETT BATTLES IT 0UT WITH NOWITZKI
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February 12, 2009
- Kevin Garnett was frustrated and sitting on the Boston bench after getting three fouls in a matter of seconds
while battling with Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas' lone All-Star. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was already in the locker room
because of the same sequence late in the third quarter, ejected after two quick technical fouls. When Garnett finally
returned with less then 5 minutes left, Paul Pierce had just given the Celtics their first lead. And they would go
on to a physical 99-92 victory Thursday night over the Mavericks. Pierce scored 18 of his 31 points in the fourth
quarter, but gave plenty of credit to his argumentative coach. "It gave us a nice little spark,'' Pierce said. "It
can go one of two ways. The coach is gone in the last game before the All-Star break, you can pack it in. But this
group is very competitive. We're going to fight.''
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Ray Allen, playing a night after injuring his thumb in the Celtics' victory at New Orleans, had 20 points and will
play in the All-Star game still. Rajon Rondo had 19 points, 15 rebounds and 14 assists for his second career triple-double,
both this season. After Garnett was called for a non-shooting foul against Nowitzki with 2:27 left in the third quarter,
they were exchanging words while setting up for the next play when official Dick Bavetta called a double technical against
the two All-Stars. Only 10 seconds later, Garnett got called for another foul - his fifth personal - and Rivers got a
technical as Nowitzki turned around with a triumphant look on his face. After Nowitzki made the free throw and play resumed,
Rivers was still arguing and got his second technical. "Doc knew we were flat. He was trying to get us going. It was good,''
said assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, who took over for Rivers. "Once he got tossed, I thought that galvanized us, energized us.''
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. MAVERICKS
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Nowitzki didn't make another field goal until hitting a 3-pointer that tied the game at 89 with 1:58 left in the game.
But Pierce then made two more free throws, before Nowitzki pulled up for another tying 12-footer. Before his late spurt,
Nowitzki hadn't made a field goal since 2:49 was left in the third quarter, putting the end to a 14-4 run by the Celtics.
Dallas had been up 65-50 only a few minutes earlier the altercation on Antoine Wright's 3-pointer. Wright had a steal and,
while falling down, got the ball to Jason Kidd, who stepped over him on the way down the court. Kidd passed to Howard, who
penetrated and then passed back to Wright, who had gotten up and was open on the left wing. Boston started the game hitting
one of its first nine shots and trailed throughout the first half. Howard's 3-pointer broke a 2-2 tie, and the Mavs continued
to lead, going up 51-40 after Nowitzki scored a versatile six points in the final 1:44 of the half. - NBA.com
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KEVIN GARNETT PLAYS WITH CHAMPION TARGET ON HIS BACK
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February 8, 2009
- Kevin Garnett scored 26 points with 12 rebounds, Paul Pierce had 19 and eight and Rajon Rondo had 16 assists for Boston. It was the second loss
in three games for the Celtics, who lost to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday in an NBA finals rematch to snap a 12-game win streak. Boston embarks
on a six-game road trip, interrupted by the All-Star break, before returning home at the end of the month. "We've got a tough task in front of us,
going on the road for the next couple of weeks, and we've got to make up some ground,'' Pierce said. "We have our work cut out for us. This is a big
road trip for us.'' Duncan converted a three-point play to give the Spurs a 90-87 lead before Ray Allen's basket cut it to one point and Garnett hit
a pair of jumpers to give Boston a 93-90 lead with 1:36 to play. But Bonner hit a jumper from the foul line and Garnett missed, then Mason hit his 3
to make it 95-93.
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The Celtics were inbounding the ball when Ginobili stole the pass and drew a clear-path foul, giving him two
shots and the Spurs the ball. San Antonio extended its lead to 101-93 before Eddie House and Garnett hit 3-pointers
to help cut the deficit to three points. The Spurs scored the last five points of the first half to open a 60-52 lead,
but the Celtics opened the second with 12 straight points to retake the lead. "It's hard for the oldest team in the NBA
to feel fresh,'' coach Gregg Popovich said Sunday after the Spurs scored 11 straight points in the final 45 seconds to
turn a one-point deficit into a 105-99 victory over the Boston Celtics. "It was a beautiful win for us, against the NBA
champions and on the road makes it even sweeter.''
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. SPURS
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Roger Mason pulled up and leaned into a 3-pointer with 20.4 seconds left to give San Antonio the lead, then hit a pair
of free throws after Manu Ginobili hit four as the Spurs pulled away from the Celtics. Tim Duncan scored 23 points with
13 rebounds and Matt Bonner had 23 points - the second-most in his career - including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. The Spurs
won for the ninth time in 11 games. Ginobili scored 19 points off the bench, playing more than 31 minutes after sitting
out Tuesday's game against Denver with a bruised hip. Duncan, who had not missed a game since 2007, also sat out the Nuggets
game, as did Michael Finley and Tony Parker while the Spurs try to pace themselves over an eight-game, three-week road trip.
"If I would have played in Denver, I wouldn't have been this fresh for sure,'' Ginobili said. "It was very important for us
to get rest a couple of days.'' - NBA.com
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KEVIN GARNETT COMPLETES THE KNICKS WEEK OF POUNDING
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February 7, 2009
- First it was Kobe, and then King James lit up Madison Square Garden. And at the end of one difficult week the New York Knicks
were hurt by a cold hard truth and an All-Star guard who truly does have game. Paul Pierce scored 26 points, Ray Allen finished
with 22 and the Boston Celtics won 110-100 Friday night to put a fitting end to one grueling stretch for New York. Kevin Garnett
also had 15 points and 11 rebounds for Boston, which rebounded from its 110-109 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday
night. The Celtics won the season series against New York 3-1 and have won nine of the last 10 in the rivalry. "It was a big win,''
said Pierce, nicknamed "The Truth'' for his considerable all-around game. "For one, I thought we were mentally and physically
drained coming into this game, especially after the tough loss. It took us a while. We got off to a slow start but this team continues
to find ways to win.''
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Al Harrington scored 27 points and David Lee had 18 points and 18 rebounds for New York, which absorbed
its third straight loss against one of the NBA's elite teams. "They're world champions and we're not and
we're trying to get to be really good and I thought for a long time we played really well,'' Knicks coach
Mike D'Antoni said. "Our defense was good, I thought our energy was there.'' Allen, who starred in the
movie "He Got Game,'' took over in the fourth quarter of the back-and-forth contest. After Danilo Gallinari
scored to give New York an 80-79 lead, Allen scored Boston's next 11 points. His drive with about 6 minutes
left put Boston in front 90-86. "I really thought that stretch where Ray got it going got us out,'' coach
Doc Rivers said. "That was huge for us.'' Eddie House added a jumper and a 3-pointer from the corner to extend
the Celtics' lead to nine with 4:05 to go. Chris Duhon responded with a three-point play for New York, but
Garnett found Leon Powe inside for a dunk and Pierce hit a long jumper to make it 99-89 with 3:11 remaining.
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. KNICKS
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"They know how to close out games down the stretch,'' Duhon said. "They execute perfectly offensively and defensively
and that's something that we have to get to.'' It was an appropriate finale for a difficult week for the Knicks, who
lost to three of the NBA's best teams and surrendered a couple of the greatest performances in Madison Square Garden
history over a matter of days. Kobe Bryant scored 61 points in the Los Angeles Lakers' 126-117 victory Monday, and LeBron
James had 52 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 107-102 win Wednesday. The Knicks'
"Dream Week'' wasn't exactly a nightmare considering the competition, but it definitely was a restless couple of nights.
"We knew this was going to be a tough week,'' Lee said. "I would have loved to get two victories out of it, but unfortunately
we didn't.'' Powe had 13 points and Rajon Rondo added 12 for the Celtics, who made nine of their first 12 shots in their
38-point fourth quarter - including 4-for-5 from 3-point range. Boston has won seven straight on the road and 13 of 14 overall. - NBA.com
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KEVIN GARNETT MISSES HIS SECOND STRAIGHT GAME
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February 3, 2009
- The Boston Celtics needed every last tick of the clock to make it 12 wins in a row. Ray Allen took a perfect pass from Paul Pierce
and buried a baseline 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to give the Celtics their 12th straight victory, 100-99 over the Philadelphia
76ers on Tuesday night. Andre Iguodala had just hit a fallaway jumper for a 99-97 lead for the Sixers - who led the entire fourth
quarter until the final basket. Pierce pump-faked a defender, dribbled toward the top of the 3-point arc, then swung the ball around
to a waiting Allen. One of the best 3-point shooters in NBA history promptly sank another to stun the Sixers. He surely bolstered his
case to be named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team as injury replacement for Orlando's Jameer Nelson. Kevin Garnett missed his
second straight game with the flu. No problem for the streaking Celtics who showed again the Big 2 are still better than just about any
team's five. Pierce scored 29 points, Allen had 23 and Glen Davis had 12 points and 11 rebounds.
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The Sixers squandered a fourth-quarter lead for the second straight game and are now two games under .500 after making a
steady push just to get their record even. The Sixers were able to hold off the Celtics for nearly the entire fourth quarter,
but Pierce did his game-changing best to keep them in it until the end. He converted a three-point play, then made an impressive
twisting, off-balance runner that cut the deficit to 92-90 with 2:42 left. He was whistled, however, for his fifth foul on
Lou Williams' layup down the lane. Williams made the free throw and the lead was back to five. Davis was left wide open and hit
and 17-footer to make it 95-92. Piece calmly sank two free throws that again cut the lead to one. Iguodala's basket with 6.8 seconds
left briefly appeared to be enough. He dribbled around Pierce and hit the fallaway from just a step or two above the free throw
line. He pumped his fists and the Sixers went wild on the bench. One big difference, though. While this was a huge game for the
Sixers, Philly was just another routine game for the best team in the NBA.
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. 76ERS
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Iguodala scored 22 points and Andre Miller had 21. The Sixers made their run without any major production from Elton Brand.
In the clearest sign yet that Brand hasn't fully recovered from his separated right shoulder in December, he played with a
protective covering on the shoulder. He came off the bench for the sixth straight game since his return and was scoreless in
only 8 minutes. Marreese Speights was spectacular in a 90-second stretch and showed why the Sixers are so high on their rookie
first-round pick. He bullied past Davis on Miller's missed free throw and spun the ball off his hand on a reverse to make it
88-83. Then he finished off an alley-oop and threw down a thunderous dunk for a 92-85 lead. The Sixers have lost two straight
on their season-high seven-game homestand. The Sixers streak of 18 missed shots ended on their first attempt of the game when
Willie Green hit a runner on the first possession. They couldn't bury a basket in the final 10 1/2 minutes of their fourth-quarter
meltdown in Saturday's loss against New Jersey, and were down 15 early in the second quarter against the sizzling Celtics. - NBA.com
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KEVIN GARNETT WATCHES FROM HOME SICK WITH THE FLU
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February 1, 2009
- Kevin Garnett was home with the flu, so Paul Pierce had a chance to pretend that he was once again the Boston Celtics' only All-Star.
"I just try to give the game what it needs. Today, I thought it needed my scoring,'' Pierce said after his 36 points, eight rebounds and
six assists helped Boston extend its winning streak to 11 games with a 109-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. "You go off and
say 'Hey, I've still got it.' Even at 31.'' Pumping in the points is nothing new for Pierce, who has scored 35 or more 62 times during a
career in which he was often the lone scoring option for a woeful Celtics team. But he's hit that mark just five times in the last two
seasons, when he's teamed up with Garnett and Ray Allen to form a New Big Three that led Boston to its 17th NBA title last season. "He had
to, without KG in the game,'' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He can almost sense when we need a bucket or when he needs to take over games.
Clearly, you have to have the ability to do that. I think a lot of guys think that; very few can do it. And Paul does a great job.''
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Al Jefferson, the centerpiece of the trade that brought Garnett to Boston, scored 34 points for the Timberwolves, who lost
their third in a row since winning 10 of 12. It's the 19th time he has scored at least 30 points in his career, the sixth
since Dec. 20 and the first time he has done it in back-to-back games. "It was to our advantage to have one less long guy
playing in the paint and blocking shots,'' Jefferson said. "To come in here and do what I did today against a team like that -
even with KG out, it's still a great defensive team - it means a lot.'' Randy Foye had 21 points and nine assists, and Jefferson
also had 11 rebounds - the 26th double-double of the season for a player who was a surprise exclusion from this month's All-Star
game in Phoenix. "He's coming along great. If you're not better at 24 than you were at 21, then you've got issues,'' Minnesota
coach Kevin McHale said. "I told Al that he's going to make many All-Star games, and he's going to take the place of some 17-year
old when he doesn't deserve it.''
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KEVIN GARNETT PHOTOS
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CELTICS VS. TIMBERWOLVES
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Garnett, who had played every other game except for one in which he was suspended, had a high fever, and Rivers said the All-Star forward
will probably miss Tuesday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers as well. "He's sick. He's really bad. His fever's really high,''
Rivers said. "He's probably not playing Tuesday. For him to be out of any game, especially today, he's got to be pretty sick.'' Allen scored
22, and Glen "Big Baby'' Davis had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals while playing in place of Garnett. "Kevin isn't here, and the
initial thing is to say, 'Hey, I get his minutes and I've got to do the things Kevin does,''' Pierce said. "But (Davis) stayed within himself
and did the little thing; he boxed out and played great defense and rebounded.'' Boston led by as many as 21 in the third quarter, 71-50,
before Minnesota scored 15 of the next 17 points. The Timberwolves got within five points in the fourth quarter, 94-89, with 5:20 left, but
Allen hit a jumper and Pierce made a pair of free throws to make it a nine-point game. - NBA.com
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