With the Boston Celtics down 0-2 on LeBron James and the Miami Heat, Paul Pierce and the team knew that they would have to come out with their best effort in front of the home crowd. The Celtics delivered, scoring 27 points in the first quarter to take a 27-21 lead.
Shaquille O'Neal saw his first NBA action since April 3, when he played only five minutes before coming out of the game with a strained calf. Before that, Shaq hadn't seen the floor since February 1, making his appearance all the more welcome from the Boston faithful.
Shaq sure did look slow on the court, but made his presence known with a steal and a wild layup that, against all odds, went in the bucket for two points. He came up lame after making the layup, and doesn't look anything like the superstar of years past.
Pierce was particularly effective in the first quarter, scoring 12 points on 4-for-6 shooting.
The game is being broadcast on ABC, so tune in to catch the rest of the game.