Kevin Garnett practices after missing 9 games with knee injury; may return Friday

Garnett returns to practice, targets Friday return

WALTHAM, Mass. — Kevin Garnett is practicing again with the Boston Celtics after missing the last nine games with a hyperextended right knee.

Garnett took part in the entire practice on Tuesday, but coach Doc Rivers said he won’t play Wednesday night in Detroit. Rivers said Garnett might be ready for Friday night’s home game against Portland.

The Celtics are 4-5 in Garnett’s absence and lost their third straight home game Monday night against the Dallas Mavericks, 99-90. Garnett said his injury isn’t related to right knee problems that limited him to four games in the final two months of the last regular season and kept him out of all 14 playoff games. He had surgery on May 26.