McGrady helps lead Pistons by Celtics

12/30/2010

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Kevin Garnett left in the first quarter with a leg injury, and the Boston Celtics looked ragged without him in a 104-92 loss to the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night.

The Celtics lost for only the second time in 17 games, but they're encountering some potentially serious adversity now. Garnett hurt himself on a dunk late in the first quarter, and although X-rays revealed no fracture in his right leg, he didn't return.

Boston was also without point guard Rajon Rondo, who missed his sixth straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Tracy McGrady scored 21 points for the Pistons, who led 45-37 at halftime and pushed the margin to 16 in the third quarter.

The Celtics were already struggling early on when Garnett dunked for his only two points of the game. He grimaced even before he landed and was careful to avoid putting too much weight on his right leg.

Garnett had surgery on his right knee in May, 2009, after missing all of that year's playoffs.

This game was much anticipated because of Garnett's dustup with Detroit's Charlie Villanueva earlier in the season.

After a Nov. 2 loss to the Celtics, Villanueva complained on Twitter that Garnett had called him a "cancer patient" during Boston's 109-86 win. Garnett denied that, saying he had actually called Villanueva: "cancerous to your team and our league."

Villanueva insisted Wednesday he wasn't fixated on that feud. He picked up two quick fouls early, the second when he and Garnett appeared to bump each other gratuitously.