doc rivers

Doc Rivers has agreed to a five-year contract extension as coach of the Boston Celtics.

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers will return for another season, staying with the team he led to the NBA finals twice in three years for a run at another championship.

Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers says Rasheed Wallace will start at center in Game 7 of the NBA finals. Wallace is replacing Kendrick Perkins, who sprained ligaments in his right knee Tuesday night in the first quarter of Boston's 89-67 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Rivers joked that he went with Wallace over Glen "Big Baby" Davis for Thursday's game because "he's old.

Kevin Garnett had surgery Tuesday on his right knee after missing all of the playoffs. The Boston Celtics defensive star and inspirational leader had bone spurs removed during the arthroscopic surgery.

"I expect Kevin to return to active duty in full force and be that consummate two-way professional that he has shown all of us throughout his fantastic NBA career," coach Doc Rivers said.

Kevin Garnett isn't ready to start the playoffs, and Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Thursday that there's a strong possibility that he will miss the entire postseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers had a surprisingly easy time staying undefeated. Only a 'Super' effort kept the Atlanta Hawks from joining them.

Paul Pierce made a jumper with 0.5 seconds left to give the Boston Celtics a 103-102 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday night, handing the Hawks their first loss of the season.

The Hawks (6-1) provided another tough test for the Celtics, just as they did in going the distance against the eventual champions in the first round of last season's playoffs.

Paul Pierce scored 35 points, Ray Allen had 19, and Rajon Rondo had 12 assists and 11 rebounds Sunday as the Boston Celtics beat the San Antonio Spurs 98-90.

The Celtics improved to 5-2 since Kevin Garnett went out with an abdominal strain, and they'd better get used to it: Coach Doc Rivers said before the game that he isn't expecting his big man back before next weekend's All-Star break.