(AFP) – Nov 19, 2008

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AFP) — Even with star forward Kevin Garnett sidelined by a suspension, the National Basketball Association champion Boston Celtics had more than enough power to handle the New York Knicks.

Paul Pierce scored 22 points while Kendrick Perkins added 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen each scored 15 points each as Boston beat New York 110-101 on Tuesday.

The Celtics, who improved to 6-1 at home, had to play without Garnett because he was suspended for making two flailing swipes in retaliation to Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut on Saturday. He lost 200,000 dollars as a result.

Australian Bogut's two swipes to the face of Garnett late in the fourth quarter earned an ejection but Garnett remained in the game. That made Celtics coach Doc Rivers wonder about the sense of banishing Garnett.

"You don't replace Kevin Garnett. Everyone just has to pitch in and do a little bit more," Rivers said.

"I was just surprised. I thought it was a ridiculous suspension. Anybody who's been around the game long enough, whether you've played it or not, you've got your head sideways and someone strikes you not once but twice. Your reaction? Your reflex is to flail.

"I guess that constitutes a punch. Clearly, he's not a good fighter if that's the case, if that's a punch. There's nothing you can do about it."

Rivers compared Garnett's foul to a flagrant foul that Phoenix center Shaquille O'Neal committed on Detroit's Rodney Stuckey, which brought him no suspension, only a 25,000-dollar fine.

"I just want more consistency from our league. I think they have to look at things differently," Rivers said.

"I hate to call out Shaq, but that was a hard foul, where a guy was suspended in the air and comes down on his face. Those two things don't go together, and we have to pay the price."

Brian Scalabrine started in place of Garnett and scored eight points on 3-of-5 shootings, including a key basket in the final minutes.

Wilson Chandler, aided by the absence of Garnett, scored 23 points to lead the Knicks, while Zach Randolph added 18 points and eight rebounds.

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