BOSTON — Celtics coach Doc Rivers feels what is said on the court should be left on the court.
Detroit’s Charlie Villanueva took it to Twitter on Tuesday night, writing on his account that Kevin Garnett called him a “cancer patient” during Boston’s 109-86 road win.
Villanueva suffers from alopecia universalis, a medical condition that results in hair loss. He does not have hair on his head.
Garnett, known as a trash talker, stuck to his usual routine and did not speak to the media before last night’s 105-102 win over the Bucks.
He did issue a statement before the game.
“I am aware there was a major miscommunication regarding something I said on the court last night. My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact: “You are cancerous to your team and our league,’ ” Garnett said. “I would never be insensitive to the brave struggle that cancer patients endure. . . .”
One of Villanueva’s tweets read: “KG called me a cancer patient, I’m [mad] because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he’s tossing it like it’s a joke.”
Rivers defended his forward while wondering why someone would need to share in-game comments.