Garnett stood tall - even when he was flattened

And perhaps the biggest offseason development was not a free agent signing but the rehabilitation of Kevin Garnett, who was battered and pounded during his 33 minutes but finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in his first game since March 25.

After seven months of anticipation regarding Garnett’s health, the Celtics got a workmanlike effort from their spiritual leader. His surgically repaired right knee held up to a series of challenges. And when it was apparent Garnett was here to stay, the Celtics took a deep breath and counterpunched the Cavaliers, taking a 15-point third-quarter lead they would never relinquish, despite a furious effort from LeBron James.

The reigning MVP scored 38 points, looking like a one-man team in many stretches, which was the Cavaliers’ major issue in June’s playoff loss to Orlando.

With the hard-charging Cavaliers trailing by 6 with less than three minutes left, Garnett drained a turnaround 13-footer off the glass for an 87-79 lead and strutted down the floor gleaming with confidence.

“I’m telling you man, I don’t have any hesitations when it comes to playing,’’ he said. “Healthwise, I’m very decent and I’m very strong. It’s a process. It’s not a sprint. I’m a lot better at being patient with all this. Sometimes I’m thinking you all are expecting I’m dead or something. I’m far from dead. Believe that.’’

If Shaquille O’Neal’s third-quarter takedown of Garnett didn’t inflict serious bodily damage then Garnett is indeed truly fully healthy.

Garnett experienced very few scares during the exhibition season and coach Doc Rivers made sure to preserve his recovering forward with limited minutes. A benchmark for Garnett’s comeback occurred with 10:26 left in the third quarter when Garnett soared to the basket for a two-handed layup and O’Neal, on help defense, grabbed Garnett (who is 100 pounds lighter) and knocked him to the floor.