Randy Foye received what he called a "secret text message -- I won't say names -- 7 o'clock this morning" informing him that Garnett was too sick to play Sunday's early game, but it was the Wolves who initially performed as if they were overwhelmed by fever and nausea.

Flustered by the Celtics' habitually rugged defense, they surrendered a 16-3 second-quarter run and trailed by 18 points before halftime. After that, even the energy and efficiency they summoned after intermission never got them any closer than five points against a Celtics team that received 36 points from Paul Pierce and 22 from Ray Allen.

The Wolves began February with their third consecutive loss after they started January 10-2. All three were against teams with winning records, including back-to-back losses against last season's NBA finalists, the Lakers and Celtics.

"I don't know what we were thinking," said Wolves center Al Jefferson, the former Celtic who countered Pierce's scoring with 34 points. "I don't know if we were caught up in the moment or what it was. It's just like we've been doing. I don't know if we just want to sit back and wait. We can't come out and let them hit us first, especially against a team like that.

"It's real clear to see when we go and play like we did in the second half. Then it's a real easy game."

The Celtics had nine of their 11 steals by halftime and reserve forward Leon Powe had four of those, signs that the Wolves were far too careless with the Basketball.

"Believe me, we were complicit in about seven of those," Wolves coach Kevin McHale said. "It doesn't matter who we're playing ... or who they're playing. I truly don't care. The thing about our league is, you play yourself 82 times. How good are you executing?"

On Sunday, McHale declared his team sometimes "lost our minds" pursuing Glen (Big Baby) Davis, who started at Garnett's forward spot, out on the floor while allowing Pierce to get to the rim.

"This is a young team trying to find itself, and every once in a while we lose ourselves," McHale said. "We battled back. We fight `em. But down 18 before halftime? That's a big pit to overcome."

The Wolves reversed a 2-14 December with that 10-2 January start partly because they hit a softer part of their schedule and played many opponents missing some of their best players. On Sunday, the Celtics forged ahead without Garnett, who missed a game against the Wolves last season because of injury.

"For Kevin not to play any game is unusual; for him not to play this game means he's really sick," said Boston coach Doc Rivers, who learned Saturday night that Garnett was ill. "Honestly, I didn't even change my game preparation, which I should have done. But I didn't because I just assumed if anybody is bigger than the flu, it's Kevin. But I was wrong."

GAME RECAP

MVP

Paul Pierce, Celtics

The NBA Finals' MVP scored a game-high 36 with Kevin Garnett out ill. Every time the Wolves got close in the second half, he made a big play to repel them.

BY THE NUMBERS

3 Wolves' losing streak, their longest since they lost 13 in a row from Nov. 29 to Dec. 23.

7 Al Jefferson's 30-plus-point games this season after he scored 34 for the second consecutive game.

11 Celtics' winning streak, eight shy of their longest of the season.

21 Celtics' third-quarter lead, 71-50 with 8:50 left.

JERRY ZGODA

Up next: at Indiana - 6 p.m. Tuesday - Conseco Fieldhouse - TV: FSN (1130-AM)