BOSTON -- Boston Celtics center Kevin Garnett will sit out Saturday's visit from the Charlotte Bobcats due to a left adductor strain. Jeff Green starts in his place.
The Celtics have considered giving Garnett games off over the final weeks of the regular season, but this is not rest-related, according to coach Doc Rivers.
"Kevin’s not playing tonight -- not because it’s a night off; he wasn't moving well yesterday in practice or today [at shootaround]. So we’re sitting him."
Rivers didn't elaborate much on the issue and wasn't certain of Garnett's availability moving forward, including Monday's visit from the East-leading Miami Heat.
"I don’t know," said Rivers. "Honestly, I haven’t looked that far ahead. I have no idea."
The Celtics rested Paul Pierce in Tuesday's visit to Charlotte and absorbed a 26-point loss. While Rivers said he'll play recently added big men D.J. White and Shavlik Randolph, he's hoping Boston's depleted frontcourt depth won't be an issue against a Bobcats team that has hurt the Celtics on the glass while beating Boston twice this season.
"[Boston's small lineups have] been awful against them," said Rivers. "Really, they stay big against us and they hurt us, but I look at it, I’m putting my five best out on the floor and seeing what we can do, if we can create a pace that will benefit us."
Later Rivers added: "Honestly, in the three games [this season], the one thing they’ve done consistently is beat us off the dribble. All of them, Gerald Henderson and all their guards, even their bigs are beating us off the dribble. The second thing is their rebounding, offensive rebounding has hurt us, and usually those two things do go hand-in-hand. If you can’t keep the ball in front of you, then your bigs are in help the entire game, and their bigs are free to rebound. Our guards have to player better."