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Garnett, Powe eye Monday practice

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff April 8, 2009 06:53 PM

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Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe will practice with the Celtics Monday barring any setbacks over the weekend, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said tonight. If all goes well, the two power forwards could return to game action Tuesday night against Philadelphia.

Powe and Garnett have both been running on their own but have not been cleared for contact drills. Garnett was in the locker room before tonight's game but did not speak to reporters.

"I feel fine," said Powe. "I think I'll practice Monday. I've been feeling good."

With five games left in the season, Rivers said he would prefer to get his injured players back for practices, but he wouldn't mind seeing them in a couple of games, either. The Celtics lead the Orlando Magic by one game for the No. 2 seed in the East.

"If we can get the home court we'll take home court," said Rivers. "I think that would be great. But I'm not going to wear my guys out for that, either."

Rivers was asked if he would rest his starters in the final two or three games of the season if the Celtics were still battling Orlando for the No. 2 seed.

"No, absolutely not," he said. "If you can get home court you've got to get it. It's a no-brainer."

Brian Scalabrine, who is in uniform tonight but is unavailable to play, joked before the game that he misses his one-on-one games with Sam Cassell because Cassell "was the only guy I could keep up with."

Rivers explained the decision to put Scal in uniform tonight against the Nets.

"Not to play, just because he had no other clothes to wear," said Rivers. "He cannot play."

Rivers said he would not target Scalabrine for a return early next week, putting a potential return for Game 1 of the playoffs at the earliest.