The Boston Celtics look to start another winning streak Monday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at the TD Garden, looking for their second straight win. The two teams have yet to face each other this season.
Kevin Garnett will not be available against his former team, as he continues to nurse his right calf injury. Garnett spent nearly his entire career in Minnesota before being traded to Boston in 2007.
The Celtics are still welcoming back another star from injury, however, as Rajon Rondo is expected to start for the second consecutive game after his return against the Toronto Raptors Sunday night. Rondo managed four points (on just three shots attempted) and eight assists in his first game since Dec. 15. But Celtics head coach Doc Rivers knows the overall importance of Rondo to the team's lineup:
"With him, because he knows everything we run, we were back into running stuff we'd basically put into hibernation while he was out," Rivers said. "You just see how comfortable Paul (Pierce) and Ray (Allen) were."
With Garnett out, it appears that Glen Davis will likely get the start again. Davis did well Sunday, scoring 15 points with 11 rebounds against an undersized Toronto team.
Shaquille O'Neal will likely get the start again at center, even with Jermaine O'Neal back. Shaq has been forced into foul trouble in his last two games, as he only managed 24 minutes against the Raptors, while Jermaine O'Neal picked up 23 minutes in place of Shaq. The O'Neals are still looking to hold down the fort for Kendrick Perkins, who is still a few weeks away from returning from his knee injury he sustained last season.
The Celtics and Timberwolves tip off at 7:30 p.m. EST. at the TD Garden.