``Every time he goes to the floor you just want him to get back up,'' coach Doc Rivers said. ``That was scary because it was an awkward fall. It was enough because of the lead, and it was time to come out anyway at that point. The rarity is that you see a big diving with a 25-point lead. But that's who he is, and that's who you want him to continue to be.''

Garnett, undeterred, said: ``Like I told Doc, I was just sliding into second, and he said, `You're safe, so come out.' It wasn't nothing. Doc said it really looked bad but it wasn't nothing. I got these pads on.''

If you want something truly scary, think of Raymond Felton. Garnett fell over the Charlotte point guard in the first quarter, and Felton went mouth-first into the floor.

Felton's plight was so bad, large splinters of wood from the parquet pierced his lower lip. The Charlotte medical staff was then forced to extract the splinters.

``They were taking parts of the floor right out of my mouth,'' said Felton, who required 15 stitches, including five inside the lip.

No Rondo news

Bill Duffy returned to California, Danny Ainge turned to other Celtics business, and the matter of Rajon Rondo's contract went unresolved for another day.

After talking with Duffy in Cleveland on Tuesday night, when the Celtics opened the season with a win against the Cavaliers, Ainge said he didn't have a follow-up call with Duffy, who is Rondo's agent.

The C's general manager and the agent are expected to talk again in the short time leading up to a Saturday deadline that, if it passes, will direct the point guard to restricted free agency next offseason.

Neither side appears to be concerned about the situation going that far, with Duffy and his client convinced that Rondo can land a lucrative deal at a time when a lot of teams are going to have considerable salary cap room. The Celtics have yet to be convinced that they will end up paying more for Rondo if he is allowed to become a restricted free agent.

A league source said contrary to published reports, Rondo is not seeking a maximum-level contract, though he is still asking for more than the C's want to pay.

Scal suits up

Brian Scalabrine, who figures to play a larger role with Glen Davis (thumb surgery) out for the next six weeks, ran through a vigorous pregame shooting drill before the home opener against the Bobcats. Scalabrine appeared to move well on his tender ankle and dressed for the game, though Rivers said the big forward isn't ready to play.

``(Playing against Charlotte) would be a great game for him, but he's injured,'' Rivers said. ``But a game like (Tuesday vs. the Cavaliers) we would have gone with Shelden (Williams) anyway. But it doesn't matter because (Scalabrine) isn't ready yet.''

A late-game Scalabrine chant started in the fourth quarter.

Scalabrine, at Rivers' request, ran to the locker room.

``I sent him in there because I didn't want the distraction, honestly,'' Rivers said. ``I was about to send in some of the young guys like Lester (Hudson), and I didn't want that to affect things. The fans love Scal but at times it's a distraction, even for him sometimes. So I got him out, and he thought it was kind of funny.''

No Baby talk

Rivers said Davis, serving part of a Celtics -imposed suspension, has not apologized to the team for his role in a fight with an old friend from Baton Rouge, La., that left him injured.

``We're not worried about that,'' Rivers said. ``That stuff will take care of itself. I don't even know what (disciplinary action will be taken). That's how far removed from it I am.

``You get upset at your kids, but they're still in the family.''