Pierce, Nets edge Celtics in preseason match-up

By Joseph Landini
New England Sports Journal
October 17, 2013
http://www.newenglandsportsjournal.com/2013/10/boston-celtics/pierce-nets-edge-celtics-in-preseason-match-up/

BROOKLYN, N.Y. –Tuesday night the Boston Celtics took their preseason on the road, heading south to Brooklyn. Since the regular season is swiftly approaching, many of the Nets players sat this one out in preparation. However, one familiar face took to the court against his former team for the first time in the Nets’ 82-80 win over the C’s.

Long-time former Celtics forward Paul Pierce, suited up in white and black for the first time in his career. Pierce scored just four points in his 27 minutes on the floor. He finished one of six, his only basket in the game a layup with 6.2 seconds left in the second. Pierce did however, notch five assists. Not only was it strange for Celtics fans to see Pierce in a Nets jersey, but the 36-year-old was a little uneasy about it as well.

“It was a little weird looking over and seeing all the green uniforms,” Pierce said. “I’m used to lining up in the green and white for so long.”

Pierce was the face of the Boston Celtics franchise for 15 years. In those years Pierce registered 21.8 points, six rebounds, and 3.9 assists. The ten-time NBA All Star, with a little help from Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, brought Boston their first and only NBA Championship since the new millennium. In the 2008, Pierce was named MVP of the NBA Finals and will always be known to Celtics fans for his heart, passion and countless clutch performances.

Another familiar face, former Celtics center/power forward Kevin Garnett, was benched Tuesday night for a scheduled day off. The Nets have back-to-back games and don’t want to tire out their vets in the preseason. Nets head coach Jason Kidd said Garnett’s night off was a “reward” for his good work during the preseason. Kidd did the same with Pierce earlier in the week during the Nets’ match-up against Philadelphia.

Courtney Lee led the Celtics with 14 points, but missed a key jumper at the end of the game that would’ve tied things up.

Garnett, Pierce and Jason Terry were traded to Brooklyn on June 28 in exchange for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans, Kris Joseph and future draft selections.

Mark your calendars: The official “return” of Pierce and Garnett to the TD Garden is Jan. 26.