CELTS
The uncertainty has ended for the Celtics, who decided to face the playoffs without Kevin Garnett.
The star forward has been in and out of the team's plans the last few weeks, depending on the condition of his right knee at the latest workout.
According to coach Doc Rivers, the decision to pull the plug was made after watching Garnett try to run Thursday morning.
"Once he got on the court, honestly I could have stopped him after the first step," said Rivers, whose team meets the Bulls in Game 2 Monday.
"But it was really surprising, because last week we all saw him running up and down. I felt great. He was going to come back and he looked really good. I mean, REALLY good. He actually sprinted, and you thought, 'OK, we're going to be good.' But when he felt a little soreness, we were told that was just natural, so we figured we'd just wait. That's why we held him out a little longer.
"Two weeks ago I was concerned, and last week I wasn't concerned. And then, bam."
Rivers is saying Garnett will miss the entire postseason, but he didn't close the door entirely.
"Yeah, I mean, there's a minute chance," said the coach. "I don't think there's a chance in hell he plays again this year, but he's going to keep doing treatment, so I guess there is a chance. But if I were a betting man, I would bet the bank that Kevin Garnett doesn't play this year. I hope I'm wrong, but that's the way it is right now."
BULLS 105, CELTICS 103 (OT): Derrick Rose tied the NBA record for most points by a rookie in his first playoff game, leading the Bulls to a 1-0 lead over the Celts in their first-round series.
Rose made 12 of 19 shots on the way to 36 points Saturday afternoon in Boston, tying the mark set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor.
Still, it was the Celtics' game to win when Paul Pierce stepped to the free throw line with 2.6 seconds left in regulation. He tied it by making the first, then caught iron with the second.
The Bulls had no timeouts left.
Tyrus Thomas hit three jumpers in overtime, and the Celts went scoreless for the last 1:35.
"We put ourselves in a hole," said coach Doc Rivers, whose team trailed by nine at halftime. "And honestly, guys, I thought we did it as much as they did it."
NOTES, QUOTES
—General manager Danny Ainge, who suffered a minor heart attack Thursday, is recovering well and was expected to be released from the hospital as early as Sunday.
Ainge was taken to the hospital that morning and had surgery to repair a blocked artery. By the end of that day, he was communicating with team personnel, telling them not to worry.
The news certainly rocked the Celts.
"It was awful," said coach Doc Rivers. "He was going into surgery and you're scared, you're worried. So it hit me hard because of that and it hit me hard because he's my friend and it hit me hard because he's my age. It was just scary for me — scary for everybody.
"Obviously, it was great when we found out he was all right."
—Ray Allen plans to appeal his one-game suspension without pay for striking Cleveland's Anderson Varejao in the groin April 12. Allen wasn't satisfied with a conversation he had with NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson.
"He really didn't give me a great explanation, or one that I thought rationalized why I was suspended and there was no infraction on the other guy," Allen said. "So I just have to deal with it. We'll file a grievance. I felt as though it was unjust, but I can't do anything about it."
As for Jackson's explanation, according to Allen, "He said that it looked like I hit him in the groin and that hitting a player in the groin is an automatic suspension. But if the guy didn't cringe or he didn't bowl over, obviously I didn't hit him (in the groin). It was just my reaction of being thrown to the ground.
"It wasn't intentional," Allen added. "I said my track record is one that hasn't (done things) of that nature. I thought all those things should have been taken into account, and obviously they weren't."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "Who are you going to blame? Nobody's lacing them up but us." — Kendrick Perkins, after the Game 1 loss to Chicago.
ROSTER REPORT
ROTATION: Starters — Point guard Rajon Rondo, Shooting guard Ray Allen, Small forward Paul Pierce, Power forward Glen Davis, Center Kendrick Perkins. Bench — Guard Eddie House, Guard/Forward Tony Allen, Center Mikki Moore, Guard Stephon Marbury, Forward Leon Powe.
PLAYER NOTES:
—G Ray Allen had a rough opener. He went 1-for-12 from the floor and didn't take a shot in overtime until he missed a jumper from the right corner at the buzzer. According to coach Doc Rivers, the fact Allen had to chase Ben Gordon at the other end of the floor took away from his offense.
—F Leon Powe had eight points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes Saturday, but he and the rest of the Boston bench went 5-for-19 from the floor.
—F Brian Scalabrine has been doing one-on-one drills with full contact. There is a chance he could play in this series.
MEDICAL WATCH:
Brian Scalabrine is day-to-day with post-concussion syndrome.
Kevin Garnett (sore right knee) is being listed by the team as day-to-day, but coach Doc Rivers has said he is out for the season.
