Celtics coach Doc Rivers said on Sunday night that Kevin Garnett wouldn't have been ready to play had the team advanced.

Boston lost to Orlando in Game 7, costing them a trip to the Conference Finals against Cleveland.

"We were hoping, and I obviously didn't think it would happen," Rivers said of a Garnett return. "If we had won this series, I can tell you there was no way he was going to play the next series. As reported at one point, he was going to have surgery, and then we decided, why? Just fate, hope, you never know. So we were hoping. But I didn't think it was going to happen."

After missing 33 regular-season games and 14 playoff contests, Garnett is looking forward to surgery and next year.

"I'm looking forward to getting better," Garnett said, "I"ll see you guys next year."