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Garnett will start vs. Magic

Print | Comments () Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff January 17, 2011 07:18 PM

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Celtics forward Kevin Garnett will return to the starting lineup tonight against the Orlando Magic, according to Doc Rivers. Garnett has not played since Dec. 29 with a right leg injury. Center Shaquille O'Neal, who was questionable after slipping on some ice yesterday, will also start for the Celtics.

Rivers said Garnett's minutes would not be limited tonight, nor would his matchups. Rivers said the Celtics could even use Garnett on Dwight Howard toward the end of the game.

"He's pretty much free to play," said Rivers. "Listen, if he's playing -- he had a practice before the other night where he probably could have played, but we were only going to bring him back if he was right-right. So yeah, he's pretty much ready to play."

-- Rivers said that Jermaine O'Neal had some more medical tests done today in New York to determine a further course of action on his knee.

"I think what will happen is he'll probably get some information, and he, [Brian] McKeon, and Eddie [Lacerte] will talk and they'll come to a conclusion," said Rivers.

The timetable for O'Neal's potential return will depend on whether or not he and the Celtics opt for any kind of surgical procedure.