The Boston Celtics will be trying to end the Miami Heats hot steak tonight but they’ll have to do it without big man Kevin Garnett.
The Celtics announced today that KG will be sitting out during tonight’s game.
Why? Apparently Garnett is sick and has a hip injury.
The Celtics wrote on Twitter: “Breaking news: Kevin Garnett (hip, illness) will not play tonight against the Miami Heat.”
Coach Doc Rivers elaborated on the illness saying that Garnett was suffering from the flu. Rivers said that Garnett would be playing if it was only the injury that was bothering him but said that KG couldn’t play through an injury while battling the flu.
Rivers told ESPN : “He’s sick. He has a terrible flu. It’s not the injury. But with the injury (and being sick) it’s just too much to play.”
The Celtics have managed without Garnett before this season. They’re 2-0 against Charlotte and Phoenix without the veteran center. Tonight’s game, however, could be a different story.
The Heat are in the middle of a massive streak and they are showing no signs of slowing down. If the Heat win tonight, they’ll bring their streak to 23 consecutive wins.
There’s no reason for the Celtics to risk Garnett tonight for a regular season game but NBA fans hoping for the streak to end are probably a little disappointed with KG’s absence. The Celtics would have been a major road block for the Heat on their way to the record books.
Breaking news: Kevin Garnett will not play tonight against the Miami Heat. #CelticsTalk
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 18, 2013