Don't expect a Willis Reed moment for Kevin Garnett in Game 7 against the Bulls tonight, or as long as the Celtics are alive in the postseason.

Team president Danny Ainge said yesterday via text message there are no plans for Garnett to play until next season. Garnett has not played since March 25 in Orlando because of a right knee sprain. He is expected to have bone spur surgery on the knee, and had been holding off in hopes of returning.

Garnett suffered the injury at Utah Feb. 19. While coach Doc Rivers early on had left open the possibility of Garnett returning this season, he recently likened the odds to that of winning the lottery.

Garnett, who turns 33 May 19, has three years and approximately $56 million remaining on his contract.

When asked following the Celtics' 128-127 triple overtime loss in Game 6 Thursday night about Garnett possibly returning this season, Ray Allen said, ``You must be one of those conspiracy theorists, huh? Personally, I don't know anything. I see Kev. I know he gets his workouts in. He's anxious. He's excited. He still has that same fire even though he's not on the floor.

``But that would be a decision where he'd have to say, `I'm ready to go,' and be able to do it. As far as I know, everything is what it is, what I see with him being in a suit, which I don't like.''

No punishment

There will be no further action against Celtics guard Rajon Rondo and Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich for their altercation late in the first quarter of Game 6, said NBA spokesman Tim Frank.

With 28 seconds remaining in the quarter, Rondo and Hinrich collided on the right side of the court. Rondo grabbed Hinrich's arm and pushed him against the scorer's table. Hinrich then shoved Rondo before referee Ed Malloy stepped between the players as they exchanged words, with Hinrich bounding around like a boxer.

Rondo, already a target of Bulls fans after his hard foul on Chicago's Brad Miller at the end of Game 5, was assessed a flagrant 1 foul. Hinrich received a technical foul.

Magic waiting

After eliminating the 76ers in Game 6 in Philadelphia Thursday, the Magic held up their team bus for close to 10 minutes so they could watch the end of the Celtics -Bulls game. Orlando will face the winner of the Boston-Chicago series.

``The reaction from everyone around the league is that this is a great series to watch,'' Magic general manager Otis Smith said. ``Our guys are in agreement with that. Rashard [Lewis] played with Ray Allen in Seattle and knows he's capable of hitting great shots. They see it's a battle.''

The Magic won Game 6 despite being without All-Star center Dwight Howard, who was suspended for elbowing the Sixers' Samuel Dalembert in the head in Game 5.

``We wanted the game and we knew if we were going home [for Game 7] it would be hard for us,'' Orlando's Mickael Pietrus said after the game. ``We wanted to end the series [Thursday]. We're happy that we did it and now we're thinking about the next round.''

Said Smith, ``Our guys wanted it over with and played like it.''

The Celtics and Magic split the season series, 2-2, but Boston lost both when playing without Garnett. If the Celtics win tonight, the series against Orlando will begin Monday in Boston. If the Bulls win, the series will begin Monday in Orlando.

``It would be a good series,'' Smith said of a possible Celtics -Magic matchup. ``They play us tough. We play them tough.''

Must-see TV

Game 6 was the most-watched first-round game on cable television in NBA history. According to TNT, it was seen by 5.35 million viewers. The previous record was 4.97 million for Game 6 of the Suns-Lakers series in 2006, a 126-118 overtime win by Phoenix . . . On whether Rondo tampered with Hinrich's missed layup in the third OT, Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said, ``I talked to [referee] Derrick Stafford and asked if he could review it, but it was too late. There are so many things that can happen. It is a judgment call on their part and they didn't make the call.''

Ready for more

Bulls guard Ben Gordon averaged 25 points during the first five games, but was limited to 12 points on 4-of-14 shooting in Game 6. ``You could see [Gordon] out there trying to chase Ray on some of those screens,'' Del Negro said. ``He didn't have that pop, he didn't have that speed. He got into some foul trouble. He only played 31 minutes, so hopefully he'll be rested for [tonight] and we'll get him some rest and therapy. We're going to need him to have a big game in Boston for Game 7.''

Great company

Rondo's 19 assists in Game 6 were one shy of the playoff record for a Bulls opponent, set by the Lakers' Magic Johnson in 1991, and tied Bob Cousy's Celtics playoff record, set in 1957 and equaled in '59 . . . Chicago's bench outscored Boston's, 35-16, in Game 6 . . . The Celtics -Bulls series has had 106 lead changes, 65 ties, and five games decided by 3 or fewer points, tying an NBA record . . . Allen's nine 3-pointers in Game 6 tied an NBA playoff record . . . Neither team practiced yesterday.

Marc J. Spears can be reached at mspears @globe.com