Paul Pierce returned to the TD Garden on Wednesday night, and received a warm welcome from the fans who remembered his 15 seasons in Boston. From his teammates, the welcome was kind of odd.
Some people thought the Clippers were reenacting when Pierce was stabbed 11 times at Boston nightclub in 2000.
The Clippers reenacting Paul Pierce's stabbing in pregame intros last night upon his return to Boston is one of the weirdest things ever.
— jerm (@JaRomney) February 11, 2016
Paul Pierce doing a mock stabbing in the huddle to relive his Boston experience? #Celtics
— Han Danson (@argonlord) February 11, 2016
Pierce, who was the Finals MVP when the Celtics won the championship in 2008, said before the game this could be his last time playing in Boston.
“It’s always special to step in the Garden,” Pierce said. “This is the bulk of my career. You spend 15 years here, make so many memories, win a championship here. It’s a special feeling, special fans, special building. I’ll always savor the moments when I can step on this court.”
The game wasn’t one he’ll want to remember. The Clippers lost in overtime.
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Feb. 9, 2016: Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) and Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) battle for a rebound during the second quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. The Bucks won the game 112-111.
Feb. 8, 2016: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) shoots over the outstretched hand of Pacers defender Ian Mahinmi (28) during the second half in Indianapolis. Bryant scored a team-high 19 points to help the Lakers rally, but the Pacers held on for the 89-87 victory.
Feb. 7, 2016: Clippers guard Chris Paul (3) drives to the bucket past a pair of Heat defenders during the first half in Miami. Paul shook off a dreadful start to score a game-high 22 points and lead the Clippers to a 110-93 win.
Feb. 6, 2016: Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates a fourth-quarter play against the Thunder in Oakland. Curry had a team-high 26 points and 10 assists to help the Warriors prevail 116-108 for their 41st straight regular-season home win.
Feb. 5, 2016: Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) celebrates his game-winning shot that beat the Cavaliers in Cleveland. Bradley's three-pointer at the buzzer gave Boston a 104-103 win.
Feb. 4, 2016: Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) looks for room to maneuver against Raptors defender Kyle Lowry (7) during the second half in Portland. McCollum scored 21 points, but Lowry had a game-high 30 as the Raptors prevailed 110-103 for their first win in Portland since 2006.
Feb. 3, 2016: Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots over Wizards defender Marcin Gortat (13) during the fourth quarter in Washington. Curry hit 11 three-pointers and poured in 51 points to lead the Warriors to a 134-121 win.
Feb. 2, 2016: Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) tries to pass around Celtics defender Jae Crowder (99) during the second half in New York. Crowder scored 16 points to help Boston win 97-89.
Feb. 1, 2016: Thunder forward Serge Ibaka (9) throws down a monster one-handed jam over Wizards defender Marcin Gortat (13) during the third quarter in Oklahoma City. Ibaka had 19 points and 10 rebounds to help the Thunder win 114-98.
Jan. 31, 2016: Magic guard Evan Fournier (10) drives to the bucket despite an arm in his face from Celtics defender Jonas Jerebko (8) during the second half in Orlando. Fournier scored a team-high 24 points to help the Magic win 119-114.
Jan. 30, 2016: Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) blocks a shot attempt by Spurs guard Manu Ginobili (20) during the third quarter in Cleveland. James also scored a game-high 29 points as the Cavs prevailed 117-103 for an elusive win over the NBA's elite.
Jan. 29, 2016: Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons (25) drives to the basket during the second half against the Nets in Dallas. Parsons scored 19 points to help the Mavericks roll to a 91-79 win.
Jan. 28, 2016: Bulls center Pau Gasol (16) shares a word with Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) at the free throw line during the first half in Los Angeles. After pre-game pleasantries, Gasol showed no sentimentality for the team he helped win two championships in a 114-91 victory for the Bulls.
Jan. 27, 2016: Rockets forward Terrence Jones (6) throws down a one-handed flush past defender Rasual Butler (18) during the second half in San Antonio. Jones scored 11 points, but the Spurs rolled 130-99 for their 34th straight home win.
Jan. 26, 2016: Suns center Alex Len (21) slams home a dunk over 76ers defender Jerami Grant during the first half in Philadelphia. Len's dunk wasn't enough as the 76ers won 113-103.
Jan. 25, 2016: Warriors guard Stephen Curry, top, tumbles over Spurs defender Jonathon Simmons during the third quarter in Oakland. Curry shook off the foul to score a game-high 37 points, and the Warriors turned a showdown of the league's top two teams into a laugher with a 120-90 rout.
Jan. 24, 2016: Rockets forward Clint Capela (15) throws down a two-handed slam against Mavericks defender Justin Anderson (1) during the second half in Houston. Capela's flush helped the Rockets win 115-104.
Jan. 23, 2016: Bulls defender Jimmy Butler (21) and Tony Snell (20) converge on Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) during the second half in Cleveland. Butler and Snell helped the Bulls clamp down defensively in a 96-83 win.
Jan. 22, 2016: Warriors coach Steve Kerr looked like he hadn't missed a beat while lamenting a foul call during his return to the sideline against the Pacers in Oakland. Kerr coached his first game of the season after summer back surgery and guided the Warriors to a 122-110 win.
Jan. 21, 2016: Cavaliers forward Kevin Love (0) fights for rebound position between Clippers defenders Wesley Johnson (33) and Austin Rivers (25) during the first half in Cleveland. Love fought through double-teams for 18 points and a game-high 16 rebounds to help the Cavaliers win 115-102.
Jan. 20, 2016: Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson throws down a monster one-handed flush over Kings defender Ben McLemore (23) during the second half in Los Angeles. Despite the slam, Clarkson and the Lakers lost 112-93.
Jan. 19, 2016: Thunder guard Russell Westbrook rises up for a one-handed jam during the fourth quarter against the Nuggets in Denver. Westbrook scored 27 points and added 12 assists but fell five rebounds shy of a triple-double in Oklahoma City's 110-104 win.
Jan. 18, 2016: Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives to the hoop past Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) during the first half in Cleveland. Curry and the Warriors quickly turned the NBA Finals rematch into a laugher and cruised to a 132-98 win.
Jan. 17, 2016: Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) stifles Lakers forward Ryan Kelly (4) for one of his three blocks on the night in Los Angeles. Howard added 14 points and 15 rebound to help Houston roll to a 112-95 win.
Jan. 16, 2016: Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) scores goes up strong between Clippers defenders Wesley Johnson (33) and Cole Aldrich (45) during the first half in Los Angeles. Cousins had a team-high 19 points and 13 rebounds as the Kings prevailed 110-103 to snap the Clippers' 10-game win streak.
Jan. 15, 2016: Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) tries to hold on to the ball under pressure from a double-team by Hawks defenders Al Horford (15) and Jeff Teague (0) during the third quarter in Milwaukee. Middleton scored 26 points to help the Bucks win 108-101 in overtime.
Jan. 14, 2016: Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) looks for room to work against Spurs defender Kawhi Leonard (2) during the second half in San Antonio. James scored 22 points, but Leonard had 20 to help the Spurs prevail 99-95 for their 32nd straight regular-season home win.
Jan. 13, 2016: Dejected Warriors guard Stephen Curry walks off the court during the fourth quarter against the Nuggets in Denver. Curry scored a game-high 38 points but also had eight turnovers as Denver won 112-110.
Jan. 12, 2016: Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives past Grizzlies defender Tony Allen (9) during the second half in Memphis. Harden scored a game-high 25 points as Houston prevailed 107-91 for its fourth straight win.
Jan. 11, 2016: Bulls center Joakim Noah can't believe he was called for a foul during the second half against the Wizards in Chicago. Noah was held scoreless as Washington won 114-100.
Jan. 10, 2016: Cavaliers forward LeBron James soars to the bucket for a one-handed jam during the first half against the 76ers in Philadelphia. James poured in a game-high 37 points to lead Cleveland to a 95-85 win.
Jan. 9, 2016: Hornets guard Kemba Walker (15) tries to drive buts collides with Clippers defender Chris Paul (3) during the second half in Los Angeles. Paul scored a team-high 25 points and played tough defense on Walker to lead the Clippers to a 97-83 win.
Jan. 8, 2016: Thunder guard Russell Westbrook rises up for a one-handed slam on the break during the first half against the Lakers in Los Angeles. Westbrook had 36 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists to help Oklahoma City hold on for a 117-113 win.
Jan. 7, 2016: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) makes a no-look pass around Kings center Kosta Koufos (41) during the first half in Sacramento. Bryant scored a team-high 28 points as the Lakers staged a furious second-half rally, but the Kings held on for the 118-115 win.
Jan. 6, 2016: Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) rises up for a two-handed flush during the second half against the Jazz in San Antonio. Leonard scored 15 points to help the Spurs roll to a 123-98 win and improve to 21-0 at home.
Jan. 5: Dallas Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia (27) hugs forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) as they come off the court during the overtime period against the Sacramento Kings at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeat the Kings 117-116 in double overtime.
Jan. 4, 2016: Grizzlies guard Tony Allen (9) dives into the first row of fans to save a loose ball from going out of bounds during the second half against the Trail Blazers in Portland. Allen's hustle helped Memphis win 91-78.
Jan. 3, 2016: Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives to the bucket between Wizards defenders Garrett Temple (17) and Jarell Eddie (8) during the first half in Washington. Wade only had eight points on 3-of-10 shooting, but Miami rolled to a 97-75 win.
Jan. 2, 2016: Irate after being ejected, Bucks guard O.J. Mayo is restrained by teammates and coaches from confronting a referee during the first quarter against the Timberwolves in Minneapolis. The Bucks overcame Mayo's ejection to win 95-85.
Jan. 1, 2016: A hand in his face couldn't stop Wizards guard John Wall (2) on his way to the bucket during the fourth quarter against the Magic in Washington. Wall had 24 points and 13 assists to lead the Wizards to a 103-91 win, their 11th straight over the division rival Magic.
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Dec. 30, 2015: Sixers forward Nerlens Noel (4) throws down a two-handed flush over Kings defender DeMarcus Cousins (15) during the first half in Sacramento. Noel scored a season-high 20 points as Philadelphia prevailed 110-105 for its second win in three games.
Dec. 29, 2015: Heat guard Dwyane Wade (3) drives to the bucket past Grizzlies defender Zach Randolph (50) during the second half in Memphis. Wade scored 19 points, but Randolph and the Grizzlies won 99-90 in overtime.
Dec. 28, 2015: Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) shoots between Magic defender Nikola Vucevic (9) and Channing Frye (8) during the first half in Orlando.Davis had 20 points and eight rebounds, but it wasn't enough as the Magic won 104-89.
Dec. 27, 2015: Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) passes around Kings defenders Seth Curry (30) and Kosta Koufos (41) during the fourth quarter in Sacramento. McCollum just missed a triple-double with 35 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists to lead Portland to a 98-94 win.
Dec. 26, 2015: Clippers guard J.J. Redick gets fired up after a big second-half 3 against the Jazz in Salt Lake City. Redick scored a team-high 25 points to help Los Angeles win 109-104.
Dec. 25, 2015: Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, celebrates a big first-half bucket against LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Oakland. Green had 22 points and 15 rebounds to help the Warriors win the NBA Finals rematch 89-83.
Dec. 23, 2015: Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) rises up for a ferocious one-handed jam over Hawks defender Kent Bazemore (24) during the first half in Atlanta. Caldwell-Pope got the highlight, but Bazemore and the Hawks got the 107-100 win.
Dec. 22, 2015: Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) hoists a fallaway jumper over Nuggets defender Gary Harris (14) d