Celtics say Garnett is OK

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES

Forget the NBA finals. Kevin Garnett looked as if he would have struggled in the slam dunk contest.

Yet the Boston Celtics insist there is nothing wrong with their power forward’s health.

“I just thought he struggled,” coach Doc Rivers said. “He had one of those nights. We all have them. We’re just not used to seeing him have them unless there’s something wrong. But he’s fine,.”

Garnett certainly didn’t look it in Game 1. His 7-of-16 shooting night included a botched layup in the fourth quarter with nobody around, and an attempted dunk of an offensive rebound that was blocked by the front of the rim.

“It happens, you’ve just got to keep playing,” teammate Paul Pierce said.

Garnett’s struggles didn’t end on offense. He was badly outplayed by counterpart Pau Gasol, who had 23 points and 14 rebounds in the Lakers’ 102-89 victory.

Garnett missed last year’s playoffs with a knee injury that required surgery, and he’s far from the tenacious force who was the Defensive Player of the Year when Boston won the NBA title two years ago.