BOSTON - Jason Collins will get his first start of the season for the Boston Celtics as they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who will be without their star center Anderson Varejao due to a knee injury.
Collins will start at center alongside Kevin Garnett, who normally starts at the five for Boston but will slide to power forward to start the game. Celtics coach Doc Rivers stressed before the game that he would like to find ways to avoid having to play Garnett at the five for the entire game. Joining Collins and Garnett in the Celtics' starting lineup are Paul Pierce, Jason Terry and Rajon Rondo.
Collins, 34, has appeared in five games this season for the Celtics and has scored just two points while grabbing 14 rebounds. Collins logged 12 minutes in Tuesday night's loss to the Chicago Bulls, during which time he had five rebounds.
As for the Cavs, rookie Tyler Zeller is expected to start for Varejao.
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