Garnett may miss entire playoffs

WALTHAM, Mass. - The Big Three is down to Two.

Celtics star Kevin Garnett, the centerpiece of Boston's 2008 championship and a key to its hopes of a repeat, could miss the playoffs because of a knee injury that has limited him to four games over the final two months of the season.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that Garnett will not be ready for Game 1 against the Chicago Bulls and possibly won't be back at all.

"It's not official that he's out for the entire playoffs, but it's official as far as I'm concerned," Rivers said before practice at the team's workout facility. "I just don't see how. I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see it."

Garnett has been the Celtics' inspirational leader since joining them in a 2007 trade that completed the new Big Three and propelled the franchise to its record 17th NBA title. He averaged 15.8 and 8.5 rebounds per game for the defending champions this season.

Ainge suffers mild heart attack

BOSTON - Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge was hospitalized Thursday after suffering what the team described as a minor heart attack.

The team issued a brief statement saying that Ainge, 50, was taken to a Boston hospital but provided few other details.

"Danny Ainge is recovering at Massachusetts General Hospital after having a minor heart attack. He is recovering nicely," the team said. "Mr. Ainge is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days."

A spokeswoman for Massachusetts General Hospital referred comment to the team.

The news was first reported by WCVB, a Boston TV station.

"All of Celtics Nation is thankful that Danny got incredible medical care so quickly and so effectively," Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said. "We wish him, Michelle and the kids all the best and know he will be back with us very soon."

A member of two Celtics championship teams in the 1980s with the original Big Three of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, Ainge helped the franchise raise its record 17th NBA championship by assembling a New Big Three by acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join veteran Paul Pierce.

Ainge was named NBA executive of the year last season and in October was rewarded with a contract extension and the title of president of basketball operations.

The Celtics are scheduled to begin the playoffs on Saturday against the Chicago Bulls. Earlier Thursday, the Celtics said Garnett was unlikely to return from a knee injury to play in the postseason - a potentially devastating blow to their hopes of a repeat championship.

Ainge missed Wednesday night's regular-season finale because he wasn't feeling well. He woke up in the morning with chest pains.

Ainge was a standout basketball player at Brigham Young who also played three seasons of pro baseball, batting .269 over 211 games for the Toronto Blue Jays.