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Spurs host Celtics as both teams hope to have stars back

Mar 19, 2009 - 6:53 PM By Mike Lipka Stats Writer

Boston (51-18) at San Antonio (45-22), 8:30 p.m. EDT

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Both of the last two NBA champions are hoping to make a run at another title this spring. But first, the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs need to get healthy.

It's unclear which of the clubs' banged-up stars will be in the lineup when they meet Friday night in San Antonio, but both the Celtics and Spurs are in need of a victory as they try to hold onto second place in their respective conferences.

San Antonio's Manu Ginobili and Boston's Kevin Garnett are the biggest names to miss considerable time recently for the two teams, with Ginobili out for the last 16 games with an ankle problem and Garnett missing the last 13 with a knee strain.

But they're hardly alone on the injured list. The Celtics were also without Ray Allen, Leon Powe, Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen for Wednesday night's 112-108 overtime win over Miami, and Tim Duncan rested his knees for the Spurs during their 93-86 victory over Minnesota on Tuesday night.

While Duncan should return Friday and Ginobili is likely to remain out, it's unclear whether the Celtics will have Garnett or Ray Allen, who is dealing with a hyperextended elbow.

Paul Pierce picked up the slack for his absent All-Star teammates against the Dwyane Wade-less Heat, scoring 36 points - including 21 in the fourth quarter and overtime -- as the Celtics avoided a third straight loss and clinched the Atlantic Division.

Rajon Rondo, who missed two games last week with a sprained ankle, added 27 points and 10 assists, while Glen Davis returned from a four-game absence due to a similar injury.

"We know that we are injured," Pierce said, "but just to get back on the winning mind-frame is big for us."

The Celtics are 7-6 since Garnett's injury, fading from contention for the top seed in the Eastern Conference and struggling to hold off Orlando for the No. 2 spot, with a half-game separating the teams.

Without the reigning NBA defensive player of the year, the Celtics have at times struggled to stop teams, giving up a season-high 127 points in Tuesday night's loss at Chicago. Garnett had originally been expected to return Friday, but Saturday night's game at Memphis could be a more likely target.

"We miss (Garnett's) leadership out on the floor, his verbal leadership," coach Doc Rivers said. "He's the one guy that holds everybody accountable defensively."

The Spurs miss Ginobili's 16.1 points per game, and without the NBA's sixth man of the year, their bench managed just 13 points in an ugly 78-76 loss at Oklahoma City on Monday night.

Coach Gregg Popovich held Duncan out Tuesday to avoid having the two-time league MVP play back-to-back games down the stretch in a season during which he has struggled with knee problems.

"He doesn't love it, but it's important for him to be fresh and healthy at the end of the season," Popovich said.

Led by 24 points from Tony Parker, San Antonio still rebounded against the Timberwolves, maintaining a 1 1/2-game lead on Houston atop the Southwest Division. The Rockets are atop a crowded pack of West teams within a few games of the Spurs as they jockey for postseason positioning.

"Right now it's a tight race in the West and every game is needed," Spurs guard George Hill said.

The Celtics swept San Antonio in last season's series, but the Spurs need only a home victory to return the favor. They won 105-99 in Boston on February 8.