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Garnett-less Celtics look to knock off Nuggets

Feb 23, 2009 - 2:39 PM Boston (45-12) at Denver (37-19) 9:00 p.m. EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics are missing one of their "Big Three." But even though the reigning NBA champs are without Kevin Garnett, they clearly still are a dangerous team.

The Celtics attempt to win without Garnett for the second time in as many days Monday when they visit the Denver Nuggets.

Garnett suffered a knee injury at Utah on Thursday and is expected to be out two-to-three weeks.

Boston did not seem to miss him at all on Sunday, however, moving to 3-1 on their six-game road trip with a 128-108 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Rajon Rondo scored a career-high 32 points, Ray Allen added 31 and Paul Pierce finished with 26 to fill the scoring void left by Garnett's absence.

The Nuggets' top player, Carmelo Anthony, played through a bone bruise in his left knee on Sunday and managed 33 points and nine rebounds. But it was not enough to lift Denver, which fell, 120-117, to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Nuggets have lost two in a row after winning seven of eight.

Denver won the first meeting between the teams, handing Boston its second loss of the season, 94-85, on November 14. Anthony led the way for the Nuggets, collecting 18 points and 13 rebounds.