Kevin Garnett Could Miss Two Weeks With Strained Calf

Filed under: Celtics, NBA Injuries

Boston's Kevin Garnett could miss two weeks with a strained right calf -- and that's just fine by GM Danny Ainge.

Garnett missed the entire 2009 playoffs with a right knee injury that eventually required surgery, so Ainge was initially concerned after seeing the All-Star forward limp off the court Wednesday in Detroit. But an MRI performed Thursday confirmed the team's postgame prognosis: Garnett suffered a simple muscle injury that's unrelated to his previous ailment.

"It's a muscle injury, a strained calf," said Ainge in a radio interview with Boston's WEEI. "It's actually the softer side of the leg below the knee. It's not anything to do with his knee, which is great news, and it's one of those injuries that he may be out for a couple of weeks at the most. That's my guess. It's always a guess. I'll just say two weeks. I think that's on the conservative side."

Garnett was hurt when he jumped for a dunk with 2:38 left in the first quarter of a 104-92 loss at the Detroit Pistons. The forward, who is averaging 15.4 points and a team-leading 9.8 rebounds, limped down the court before leaving the game.

As Garnett goes on the shelf, Rajon Rondo could return -- although it's unclear if that will be Friday against the New Orleans Hornets or sometime soon after. Rondo has missed the last six games with a sprained ankle.

"Rajon is getting better," Ainge said. "It was a pretty severe sprain. Rajon is in a situation where he could play, but he's in pain still. He has pain on both sides of the ankle and we just don't want to get him back on to the court until he can play hard."

 

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