A big void for Celtics vs. Nets

Kevin Garnett had a heavy workload against the Raptors. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)

If the Celtics' roster of available players seems short these days, there is good reason. The team does not have an experienced center while Kendrick Perkins (left shoulder) recovers. Backup guard Bill Walker has performed for less than six minutes, and Sam Cassell and J.R. Giddens have yet to play this season.

And the Celtics will be missing Tony Allen (ankle) and Perkins for a home game against the Nets tonight and a visit to New Jersey Saturday.

The Celtics were able to adjust in wins at Toronto Sunday (94-88) and over the Raptors here Monday (115-109 in overtime). But Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce all played at least 40 minutes in Monday's game. And though Brian Scalabrine was effective at center against the Raptors, the Celtics will be undersized against a Nets team that will have available three players 6 feet 10 inches and one 7-footer.

Scalabrine, who began his professional career with the Nets, will continue to have a prominent role, at least until the expected return of Perkins for Monday's game against Phoenix.

"He's been unbelievable; he was huge in the third quarter," coach Doc Rivers said.

Scalabrine scored 11 points and Leon Powe added 10 in splitting the center duties Monday. Scalabrine came out firing in the second half, scoring 8 points in the third quarter, but remained on the bench after that. Powe went scoreless in the fourth quarter but added two field goals in overtime. Glen Davis and Gabe Pruitt also made key contributions in the fourth quarter.

"I told him, 'That's your shot, shoot it,' " Rivers said of Scalabrine's perimeter game. "But, more importantly, he's a guy who gets deflections, he's running around on the floor. He's been great. Leon was great. Gabe was phenomenal in that stretch."

But the Celtics mostly relied on Allen (25 minutes after halftime), Garnett (23), Pierce (29), and Rajon Rondo (23) to rally past the Raptors. Pierce, who sustained a knee sprain in a collision with Scalabrine Sunday, was considered a "50-50" shot to even start the game, according to Rivers, then played nearly 50 minutes.

The Celtics' inside defense will not be as formidable without Perkins. But Scalabrine adds other dimensions to the lineup.

"Perkins is big-time defensively, especially at the rim," Scalabrine said. "As far as a guy driving, [Garnett] can get up there and challenge shots high.

"But I'm not going to be out there taking shots away from the rim. As a group, we need to play better position defense, just keep going, keep playing, and keep making shots. Definitely, offensively it's different."