BOSTON – with Kevin Garnett (knee) and Paul Pierce (sore left foot) nowhere close to 100 percent, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy, who will be coaching the Eastern Conference All-Star team next weekend, was asked if he was going to play Boston’s two stars a lot so that they would be tired when the Celtics returned to action.

After thinking about it for a second, Van Gundy joked that making Garnett and Pierce tired during All-Star Weekend would not significantly benefit the Magic, because the two teams will not meet again before the playoffs.

“[Boston coach Doc Rivers has] got a better chance of me resting his guys, because we don’t play them again,” Van Gundy said. “If we played them the weekend after the All-Star Game, they would all go about 42 minutes. with us not playing them again, I can’t really get much out of burying them.”

“We’re not looking to hurt anybody,” Van Gundy added. “At the same time, obviously Kevin was voted into the game by the fans and Paul has been a perennial All-Star, so fans are going to want to see those guys. so you can’t play them five or six minutes, in particular Kevin as a starter. He’s got to put in some minutes, but we’ll see where they are and where Doc is in the whole thing.”

When asked about Van Gundy’s comments, Rivers joked that Boston’s players should be held to limited minutes to keep them fresh and healthy, and that all of the All-Stars from the other elite teams in the East – Cleveland, Orlando and Atlanta – should play the entire game so they get worn out.

“I disagree with Stan 100 percent. I think the fans want to see Kevin for about 30 seconds, and then I really think they want to see [Orlando center] Dwight Howard for 48 minutes and [Cleveland guard] LeBron [James] should play the entire game. Joe Johnson too. I think those are the guys that deserve to play.”

Van Gundy said he will talk to each individual All-Star and ask how much they want to play, then go from there when deciding how to distribute minutes amongst the All-Stars.

“I think the whole minutes thing is a joke anyway, unless you’re playing a team coming out of the break,” Rivers said. “Then that might be a different factor. other than that, I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

Pierce said his sore left foot felt “fine” in his first game back since last Monday, when he injured it against Washington.

“The foot was a little bit sore, but I don’t think it affected too much of my movement,” Pierce said. “The soreness is on the top part of my foot, so as far as my lateral movement up and down, it really didn’t matter. … I felt fine out there.”

Rivers, however, said that he didn’t like the way Pierce moved, and that playing Pierce might have contributed to the Celtics’ losing.

Marquis Daniels (thumb surgery) returned to Boston’s lineup for the first time since Dec. 4, receiving a standing ovation with 4.3 seconds left in the first quarter.

He made an early mistake, fouling Orlando guard Mickael Pietrus on a 3-point attempt 41 seconds after entering. Pietrus made two of the three free throws to give Orlando a 25-24 lead, but Daniels made up for his mistake on Boston’s next three possessions when he knocked down three consecutive jumpers to put Boston back on top, 32-27.

He finished with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting in 12 minutes and 31 seconds. he also grabbed three rebounds.

“Coach wanted me to come out and be aggressive,” Daniels said. “I just wanted to come out and do the regular things that I normally do. They were giving me the shots and I was just trying to take them and be aggressive.”

“Marquis played phenomenal,” Rivers said. “I have to tell you, I was shocked by that. I wasn’t going to play him. That’s how [bad] he looked in practice. he was terrific.”

Daniels said he was glad to be back. he played a big role in helping the second unit be successful in the first half of Boston’s 96-89 loss to Orlando. the Celtics collapsed in the second half.

“I think we came out with a lot of energy,” Daniels said of the second unit. we just have to get the team to work and get better.”

Rivers said he will be going home to Orlando during the All-Star break to spend time with his family.

“My two kids will play four [basketball] games in those three days so it couldn’t be better for me,” said Rivers.

Rivers hopes his players will go out west during the All-Star break and suggested vacation spots like Las Vegas, because the Celtics will have a West Coast trip following the All-Star break.

Celtics Journal: Van Gundy, Rivers trade barbs heading into All-Star Game