KG might not be here when Celtics arrive

Charles Krupa, Associated Press - Ap

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett seems unlikely to play Friday when the former Timberwolves star returns to Target Center for his first game since being traded to Boston. He has an abdominal muscle injury that has kept him out since getting hurt against the Wolves in Boston on Jan. 25.

An injury has kept Garnett out, which could disappoint fans hoping to see the former Wolves star.

By JERRY ZGODA, Star Tribune

Last update: February 5, 2008 - 12:06 AM

Kevin Garnett likely will not play for Boston on Friday at Target Center in what was supposed to be his emotional return to Minnesota for the first time since last summer's seismic trade.

Garnett has not played since he injured abdominal muscles late in a game against the Wolves 11 days ago. Asked Monday if Garnett's playing presence against the team whose uniform he wore for 12 seasons is out of the question, Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters, "I think it is."

The Wolves required single-game buyers to purchase tickets to one or two other games for the chance to see Garnett play at Target Center again.

A Minneapolis ticket company priced its seats for three times as much as any other Wolves home game this season, knowing hometown fans valued the chance to say both hello and farewell.

Season ticket holder Sonia Grover, who started an iheartkg.com website that now is a Wolves blog, has anticipated Friday's game all season.

"I've been looking at that game as closure: KG comes and we all get to say goodbye," said Grover, who books acts at the First Avenue nightclub across the street from Target Center. "Doc Rivers was asked specifically about this week. We still have two more [Celtics] games. I'm hoping Friday doesn't count as this week."

Wolves forward Mark Madsen bought 30 tickets because he wanted those closest to him to be there for what promised to be the season's most poignant evening. "It's still a great team, right?" Madsen said of the league-leading Celtics (36-8).

Garnett accompanied the Celtics to Cleveland for tonight's game, but is not expected to play. Rivers said Garnett will not play again until his health is "100 percent" assured, which might not be until after the All-Star break.

He called Friday's game a "special situation" and said Garnett might not come to Minnesota.

"If he's not going to play, I don't know if you bring him or not," Rivers said of a player who insists upon watching from the locker room rather than the bench if he doesn't play.

The team anticipates a sellout audience for Friday's game and will not offer refunds to single-game ticket buyers who also bought tickets to the Feb. 24 Dallas game or January game against Phoenix so they could see Garnett's return.

The Wolves modeled those ticket packages after the Vikings, who have required single-game buyers to purchase a ticket to a preseason game if they also want to see the Green Bay Packers in the regular season. The team planned to acknowledge Garnett's return by introducing him first among the Celtics and allowing the hometown fans as long as they need to welcome him.

"There'd be a lot of people disappointed," Wolves vice president of marketing and communications Ted Johnson said. "Unfortunately, that's one of the risks inherent with any sporting event."

Ticket King, a Minneapolis ticket company, priced tickets for Friday's game on its website from $51 to $620. Tickets for Monday's game against Houston ranged from $20 to $180.

"Absolutely, that'll definitely put a crimp in the Wolves-Celtics market," Ticket King representative Mike Nowakowski said.

Recent Timberwolves stories

Under 19-world title lands Dixon USA Basketball coach of year award - February 5, 2008

Under 19-world title lands Dixon USA Basketball coach of year award - Jamie Dixon of Pitt has been chosen as USA Basketball's national coach of the year for guiding the United States' first FIBA under-19 world championship team since 1991. More