The Boston Celtics will have a tough home matchup Tuesday night without center Kevin Garnett when they host the visiting New York Knicks at 7 p.m. ET.
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Via ESPN:
Tuesday's game could be a preview of a potential first-round series in the Eastern Conference playoffs. New York (42-26) currently occupies the third spot while Boston (36-33) is 6 1/2 games behind, but has lost four games in a row.
The Celtics' season has been marred by injuries to Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger, as well as former teammate Leandro Barbosa, and now Garnett is expected to be out at least a week with inflammation in his left ankle. It could be as long as three weeks, according to general manager Danny Ainge, but coach Doc Rivers is confident it won't affect Garnett in the playoffs.
Even if Garnett only misses a week, it could be significant, with Tuesday's contest marking the first of five in a seven-day span.
"We're going to err on the right side," Rivers said. "If they give me an option of 'You can play him every third game or give him two weeks rest,' I can tell you right now, I'm going to say 'two weeks rest' ... because at the end of the day, I want him right. I don't want him half right."
Garnett's absence is particularly troubling as the Celtics have allowed 104 or more points three times during their four-game slide. Already one of the league's worst rebounding teams with an average margin of minus-4.1 this season, Boston is also being outrebounded by an average of 10 during its skid. Garnett is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 7.8 and his average of 0.9 blocks per game is tied with Jeff Green for first.
The Knicks, meanwhile, have won four in a row with Kenyon Martin proving to be a pleasant surprise. Martin hadn't played this season until being signed on Feb. 21, but since he has played in 11 contests while starting the last six. He's averaging 12.2 points on 67.3 percent shooting with 7.2 rebounds in those starts.
Martin had 18 points and seven rebounds in New York's 110-84 home win over Toronto on Saturday.