Originally published Sunday, February 22, 2009 at 12:00 AM

NBA | Knee injury to sideline Kevin Garnett for 2-3 weeks

Boston Celtics officials say forward Kevin Garnett will miss from two to three weeks because of a strained muscle behind his knee. Garnett returned Friday to...

By The Associated Press and The Boston Globe

PHOENIX — Boston Celtics officials say forward Kevin Garnett will miss from two to three weeks because of a strained muscle behind his knee.

Garnett returned Friday to Boston after injuring the knee on the team's West trip. Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said Saturday that team doctor Brian McKeon diagnosed the muscle strain after tests and an MRI.

Garnett injured his knee while going up for a lob pass from Paul Pierce late in the first half of Boston's 90-85 loss to the Utah Jazz on Thursday. Garnett landed gingerly and immediately motioned to the bench for a substitute.

After the game, the team decided to send him back to Boston as a precaution when the soreness in his knee persisted. The Celtics play in Phoenix today.

Garnett expressed a desire to continue playing in Thursday's game.

"He wanted to run, and I just said no," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Listen, we have a long season and I'm not taking a risk putting him on the floor. We would have loved to have him, obviously. It probably would have made a difference. Unless he's close to 100 percent, I'd rather have him healthy for the playoffs."

Note

• Philadelphia guard Andre Miller extended the league's longest active streak of games played to 502, facing the Heat in Miami three days after straining his right calf.

Dwyane Wade scored 25 points as Miami beat the Sixers 97-91.

• Host Golden State — helped by 24 points from Jamal Crawford, a graduate of Rainier Beach High School in Seattle — outscored Oklahoma City 133-120. Kevin Durant, the league's rookie of the year as a Sonic last season, scored 32 points for Oklahoma City.

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