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Banged-up Celtics host Hornets

Dec 31, 2010 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - With All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo already sidelined, the Boston Celtics will have to deal with the absence of defensive stopper and power forward Kevin Garnett for a weeks because of a strained calf. Boston begins life without Garnett today at home versus the New Orleans Hornets.

The defending Eastern Conference champion Celtics have won nine in a row at TD Garden, but dropped two of three contests on a three-game road trip following a season-best 14-game winning streak. They rebounded from a Christmas Day setback in Orlando by beating Indiana three nights later, then fell back into the loss column with a 104-92 defeat at Detroit on Wednesday at The Palace.

Garnett went down late in the opening period after a dunk, his only points of the game, and left a big gap in the middle for the Pistons to nibble on. Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge said Garnett will miss a few weeks. The team originally thought the 13-time All-Star aggravated his surgically repaired right knee. Garnett is posting 15.0 points and 9.5 boards per game.

"I think Kevin's injury took a lot of wind out of our players, because we originally thought the injury was a lot more severe than it turned out to be," said head coach Doc Rivers. "I think there was a while there where our minds weren't where we needed them to be."

Paul Pierce had 33 points, eight assists and five rebounds, while Ray Allen and Glen Davis contributed 12 points apiece for the Celtics, who are 13-1 at home and fell to 24-6 on the season. Boston had trouble defending the perimeter, as the Pistons buried 10-of-15 shots from three-point range.

Rondo, meanwhile, has missed six straight games with an ankle issue and may not play again until the new year. Rondo is listed as questionable for Friday and is averaging 11.2 points and an NBA-best 13.8 assists this season. Rivers is still four wins away of matching K.C. Jones (308) for third on the franchise's all-time wins list.

The struggling Hornets will have a tough time trying to stop a seven-game road losing streak Friday even if Boston is without both Rondo and Garnett. They are 5-10 away from the Big Easy this season and are coming off Wednesday's 103-88 home loss to the two-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Chris Paul finished with 20 points and seven assists, Marco Belinelli scored 15 points and Jarrett Jack netted 12 off the bench for the Hornets, who have dropped 13 of their last 20 games overall but still own a solid 13-4 home ledger. The Lakers outrebounded the Hornets by a 44-24 margin, marking the first time in nine games the Hornets were beaten on the glass.

"I thought we were overwhelmed," Hornets coach Monty Williams said. "You can't treat one game more than any other. With all the stuff going on we treated this like a big game."

David West had just eight points -- only his third single-digit game of the season. West is questionable for Friday with a sprained left ankle. The Hornets will make a stop in Washington after their game in Beantown.

Boston and New Orleans are meeting for the first time since splitting a home- and-home series a year ago, with each team holding serve as the host. The Celtics have won eight of the past 12 meetings with the Hornets, who are winless in their last three sojourns in the New England region.