Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are getting a warm welcome back in Boston.
The two former Celtics received a standing ovation when they took the court for warmups before Sunday night’s game. Fans in the packed TD Garden began chanting “Paul Pierce!” as soon as the national anthem ended, stopping only when the Brooklyn Nets were introduced.
After the rest of the Nets were booed, Pierce and Garnett received huge cheers.
Pierce spent some time greeting old friends during warmups, but Garnett appeared to concentrating only on the game.
Pierce spent 15 years in Boston and is the No. 2 scorer in the history of the NBA’s most-decorated franchise. Garnett joined him in 2008 and helped lead the Celtics to their 17th NBA title.
But they were traded away last summer as the team began rebuilding.