The Boston Celtics open the second half of the NBA season with their toughest road trip of the year, but they apparently may be getting back their MVP candidate in Kevin Garnett.
Garnett has missed the last nine games, and the All-Star Game, with an abdominal strain but said Monday he expects to return Tuesday night in Denver, where the Nuggets are 1-point favorites at WagerWeb.com.
"I feel great," Garnett told reporters after practice Monday night. "It felt good. For the most part, it was good to be out there battling, going over some things and helping the team to get better. It's just good to be out [there], to tell you the truth. It felt good."
The final decision, however, rests with coach Doc Rivers. The Celtics were 7-2 in Garnett's absence.
Asked if he would definitely play, Garnett said, "I don't know. I feel good. Doc Rivers might have a different assessment from that, so, either way, mentally I'm good with it. His thing is long-term. I live in the present and the current, but I understand his position. Y'all talk to Doc Rivers for me. The 'Play KG' campaign."
Garnett averaged 19.2 points and 9.9 rebounds before his injury, and he anchors the defense of a Boston team that has allowed an NBA-low 89.4 points per game.
Says Denver's Carmelo Anthony said, "I'm pretty sure he'll be back against us."
"I would say there's probably a 99 percent chance of him playing, from what I know about Kevin Garnett," Nuggets coach George Karl said.Boston has won five games in a row and is an incredible 16-0 this season against Western Conference opponents, but it plays four road games in the next six days against teams with a combined home record of 78-27.
The Celtics should be pretty healthy overall Tuesday. Starting center Kendrick Perkins said he expects to play after missing three games with a left shoulder sprain. Reserve center Scot Pollard is wearing ankle braces and is expected to play for the first time since Jan. 9. And rookie forward Glen Davis is expected to play despite recently suffering a strained left quadriceps and a knee bruise.
The Nuggets, meanwhile, entered the break winning six of eight and have won nine of their last 10 at home, where they are 21-6 this season.
Carmelo Anthony is averaging 30.3 points in seven February games since missing the last five games of January with a sprained ankle. Allen Iverson, meanwhile, has learned how to pass the ball, averaging 10.1 assists over the last eight games.
However, the Nuggets could be without starting power forward Kenyon Martin tonight; he will be a game-time decision because of strep throat.
The Celtics have won three of their last four against the Nuggets, including a 119-93 victory in Boston on Nov. 7 in which they led 77-38 at halftime. In that game, Garnett scored 23 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. The Celtics, though, have lost three straight in Denver.
The Nuggets are is 3-13 when failing to score 100 points and 6-18 when outshot by their opponent.
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