The losing streak is now three games, and while there were extenuating circumstances, this was the worst loss of the three. Yes the injuries are piling up and yes, the trip was long and tiring, but the Celtics had less pop than day-old champagne and provided decidedly less buzz. They clearly have bigger issues than one game, and in truth it wasn’t much of a surprise that the Suns were able to blow them off the court Wednesday night, 116-98.

The big news came before tip-off as Kevin Garnett and Glen Davis (again) joined Paul Pierce and Marquis Daniels on the injured list, and it looks like it will be a little while before Garnett returns. The Celtics are saying that Garnett suffered a hyper-extended knee when he got kicked against the Warriors on Monday, which they are saying is different than the thigh bruise that kept him out last week against Philly and different than the knee injury that kept him out of the playoffs.

With more than a week between now and a Jan. 6 game at Miami and only one more game in between against the Raptors on Saturday, this seems like an ideal time to give Garnett some rest. That’s how the Celtics are playing it, but there will certainly be questions about Garnett’s injuries, which coincidentally or not, have all affected the same leg.

Despite all that the Celtics did come out with the best of intentions. They went into the post repeatedly in the first quarter in an effort to play from the inside out and they took the ball hard to the basket and lived at the free throw line for most of the second quarter. Those good intentions, however, couldn’t mask a lack of players, energy or hustle.

Here are three more things in the aftermath of a long, strange trip:

LET THE GARNETT QUESTIONS BEGIN

The best-kept secret in Boston last winter involved the status of Garnett’s knee. It wasn’t until after he went down against Utah when word trickled out that it had been bothering him for a good chunk of the season.

The second best-kept secret was the condition of Garnett’s knee after the injury. He returned briefly, playing limited minutes, and then it was decided that he would take a few games off. Then his return kept getting pushed back. Then he missed the playoffs entirely.

After the season, Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck revealed that the team had purposely kept the whole thing shrouded in mystery so as to keep their opponents guessing.

So, considering all that and considering the information we have been provided by the team about Garnett’s myriad ailments, which have all affected his right leg in the area that surrounds his surgically-repaired right knee, there will be some questions this time around.

That said, there’s some validity to the plan as it was presented. If the Celtics wanted to grant Garnett some strategically-timed rest – much like the Red Sox have done with some of their starting pitchers – then this as good a time to do it as any.

The Celtics don’t play again until Saturday and then they have off until the following Wednesday. But if it lingers beyond that, there needs to be some answers, not just more questions.

THE KIDS MAY BE ALL RIGHT, BUT THEY AREN’T PLAYING

If ever there was a time for J.R. Giddens, Bill Walker and Lester Hudson to see the court it was last night. With just 11 healthy players in total, Doc Rivers continued to play it close to the vest with an eight-man rotation.

Giddens was the first to enter, with just under eight minutes left in the game and by that point it was already well over. Of the three, Giddens acquitted himself the best with four points, three boards and a tasty alley-oop dunk, but that wasn’t much to go on in terms of evaluation.

In truth, none of the three have played enough to merit much of a scouting report. Indeed, it’s even a misnomer to call them “kids” since Giddens and Hudson are both older than Rajon Rondo and Hudson is older than Kendrick Perkins by a few months.

What we do know after 31 games is that none of them have been able to carve out a niche beyond serving as practice players. Hudson, the rookie, was recently in the D-League with Maine and Walker had been there on what basically amounted to a rehab assignment after undergoing knee surgery during training camp.

Earlier in the season the Celtics elected not to pick up Giddens’ option for next season, which makes him a free agent after this season.

Whether they would have helped during last night’s carnage is open for debate, but there lack of playing time is indicative that they may not get much of a chance.

SO, WHAT NOW?

For starters the Celtics will go home and try to get healthy. The injury scenario has been hanging over their heads since camp began in October and perhaps it’s better if it begins to sort itself now, rather than later.

They’re fortunate in a way that all this is happening when most of the region is focused on the Patriots, the hot stove and the Winter Classic. 

Davis, who suffered a sprained ankle against Golden State, may try to play against the Raptors, but it seems unlikely that Pierce or Garnett will.

Rajon Rondo has his own injury, a bad hamstring, but he sucked it up and gave the Celtics 31 minutes. It wasn’t his best 31 minutes, but Doc Rivers told reporters after the game that he was proud of the way he went out and competed.

There’s an awful lot of time between now and April and the worst thing they could do is exacerbate any of the above ailments by rushing back too quickly.

Now is the time to regroup and take their lumps, if there are any more to take. A better defensive effort on Saturday would be a good start.