Someone observed that Garnett exulted after dunking and landing on his feet near Minnesota owner Glen Taylor. Did his celebration carry a message?

``I didn't even know that, but who cares?'' he said.

The closest Garnett came to opening up about his return to the Target Center came in response to a question about his dunk over the man he was traded for - Al Jefferson.

``It's not personal,'' Garnett said. ``People try to make it personal, but I don't think about that. He's a competitor, I'm a competitor. I'm trying to get another ring, and he's trying to take his team in the direction that will make the situation better. It's two different stages on two different teams.''

Garnett, in his own stoic manner, was clearly pleased to have moved on, though the cheering Target Center crowd clearly still loves him.

C's coach Doc Rivers didn't believe Garnett's claim that this was going to be just another game. ``But that's what he should say,'' he said. ``As a player he has to try to get through that.''

Rivers claimed to have little feel for Garnett's frame of mind following the team's 4 a.m. arrival in Minneapolis following Thursday night's win over the Pistons, save that he was tired.

``Usually I'm worried about him going over the energy line, so this might be a good thing tonight,'' said Rivers.

Gone in a Flash

The Celtics, as expected, assigned rookie Bill Walker to the Utah Flash of the NBADL, where he will join fellow rookie J.R. Giddens. Considering that the talented young forward was spending his NBA minutes between garbage time and the bench, Rivers considered the move a natural.

``It's time for him to play,'' said Rivers, repeating the same words he used when Giddens was sent away. ``Sam (Cassell) can play 1, 2 and 3 in his mind if he needs to.

``But there's no timetable (with Walker),'' he said. ``I just want them both to get better. The guy hasn't played in one NBA game yet, so there's no way of telling where he is.''

For now, Rivers' monitoring of both rookies will come to a temporary end.

``I leave that to Danny (Ainge),'' he said. ``I get reports from Danny, (assistant GM) Dave Wohl and (scout) Austin Ainge, and I'll even call these guys.''

No surprise

Jefferson started last night averaging a double-double, (22.6 points, 10.3 rebounds), and finished his duel against Garnett with a game-high 23 points and four boards.

``As a kid he was terrific - a joy to coach,'' said Rivers. ``Where he was as a kid to where he is now is really something to see. He's one of the best scoring bigs in our league. But it's all about working in the shadows, and what you do when you're on your own. Al's done the work.''

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