Kevin Garnett will not appear in the Boston Celtics' final two regular season games, but he is ready for the start of the NBA playoffs, team's spokesman Jeff Twiss said Monday.

Garnett has missed 21 of the team's last 25 games due to a strained right knee.

Spokesman Twiss said Monday that Boston coach Doc Rivers decided there was no point to bring back Garnett for two essentially meaningless games.

The Celtics are in Philadelphia, where they will play the 76ers on Tuesday night. They return to Boston on Wednesday to close out the regular season against the Washington Wizards.

Twiss also said that reserve forward Leon Powe could return for one or both of the final regular-season games after missing the last 12 with a right knee injury.

(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2009)