Celtics, like other NBA playoff-caliber teams, must adjust to having star out with injury

All Boston Celtics fans had to be in a panic about the possibility of a lost season with about one minute remaining in the first half of Thursday night's game against the Utah Jazz. Well, at least the die-hards who were still watching the game about midnight Eastern time. (Thanks, TNT).

Boston's best all-around player, power forward Kevin Garnett, had just limped off the EnergySolutions court and, in obvious pain, gone straight to the locker room. The Celtics' dreams of becoming the first back-to-back NBA champions since the 2002 Lakers finished a three-peat would certainly be dashed if Garnett was out with a season-ending injury.

Celtics fans, however, had to breathe a major sigh of relief when Garnett limped back on the court and began warming up for the second half of the close game. But as much as K.G. wanted to continue on against the Jazz, he couldn't, and he missed the remainder of the game, which Utah rallied to win.

It wasn't the only game action Garnett will miss, either. With his teammates in Phoenix for today's game against the Suns, Garnett was sent back to Boston for evaluation on Friday. MRI test results on Saturday indicate that he will be out for approximately three weeks with a strained muscle behind his right knee.

It could have been much worse, of course. If all goes well, Garnett will return in plenty of time for the stretch run and the playoffs. One thing he won't do, though, is try to come back too early.

"We need to have (Garnett) healthy in the playoffs," said Boston coach Doc Rivers. "That's the way we look at it ... If they don't tell me he's close to 100 percent, he won't play."

Boston, now 44-12, is neck-and-neck with the Cleveland Cavaliers for the best record in the Eastern Conference and right on the heels of the Lakers for the best record in the league as well. Having Garnett out for the next three weeks will almost certainly hurt the defending champs' playoff seeding.

But that's not going to force Boston to push Garnett to come back too early.

"Obviously, we need Kevin, but we're going to be smart about this," said Rivers. "I'm not going to jeopardize the season to try to squeeze out a couple more wins. I'd rather see what we can do without him for a few games, try to get him healthy and go from there."

Paul Pierce, the Celtics' All-Star swingman, agrees.