A pair of small, but significant, milestones were met and exceeded by Shaun Livingston during the course of Monday’s victory over the Suns.
By scoring 12 points and playing 32 minutes, Livingston surpassed his single-season career highs in both points and minutes, both of which were set in the 2006-07 season, the year he suffered the devastating knee injury from which it has taken the past several years to recover.
“I’m blessed, obviously, to come this far,” Livingston said. “I appreciate every minute. I’m very appreciative and thankful for my journey, and I’m trying to keep going.”
Livingston has been a revelation for the Nets this season, averaging 7.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.1 assists while also spending a lot of time guarding the best opposing perimeter player for the Nets after being slotted into the starting lineup when the Nets switched to their small-ball look at the start of the new year.
“Incredible,” coach Jason Kidd said of Livingston’s season. “It’s a great story all the way around. He’s a great person, on-and-off the court, and he deserves everything that he’s been recognized for. He sets the table, he’s guarded the best player on the other side … he’s responded. I couldn’t ask for a better player to coach and to be around.”
Kevin Garnett will miss his 10th consecutive game Wednesday against Charlotte because of back spasms, but Paul Pierce said if the game against the Bobcats was a playoff game, his longtime teammate would be on the floor next to him.
“He wants to be out here, but he understands the importance of being 100 percent,” Pierce said following Tuesday’s practice. “I’m sure if it was a playoff game today, [Garnett] would be out there, but I want him to get as close to 100 percent as possible for the stretch run, because we’re going to need him late in the season and in the playoffs.”
Garnett declined to speak to the media, and hasn’t talked since postgame in Portland on Feb. 26. He played the next night in Denver, and hasn’t played since.
You won’t see Pierce addressing Phil Jackson’s hiring with the Knicks.
After saying last week he wasn’t going to answer any questions about the Knicks, the subject of Jackson’s official hiring was broached with Pierce at the end of his interview session Tuesday.
When the question was asked, he simply winked and walked away.
Pierce has plenty of history with the Knicks going back to his Celtics days, and hasn’t hesitated to challenge them this season, either, going all the way back to a radio interview shortly after joining the Nets last summer.
“Everybody knows how much I disliked the Knicks when I was with the Celtics, but I think it’s grown to another level,” Pierce said back then. “I think it’s time for the Nets to start running this city.”