Brian Scalabrine

CLEVELAND - Celtics forward Glen Davis sustained a broken thumb Sunday night in an altercation with a former college teammate, according to a league source. Another league source confirmed the injury will require surgery and will keep Davis out indefinitely. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said yesterday he “would not confirm or deny’’ reports surrounding the injury. Davis missed practice yesterday at the team’s facility in Waltham, Mass., and did not travel to Cleveland for tonight’s season opener against the Cavaliers.

PHILADELPHIA - Ray Allen's reputation has caught up with him. The 76ers paid special attention to Allen in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, limiting him to one field goal attempt - a first-half layup. "I think about what I've been able to do in this league over the course of my career," Allen said before Game 4 Friday night. "To be able to be regarded as one of the greatest shooters of all time, now it's at a point where it hurts me because no one wants me to take a shot.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Jason Kidd didn't even know who bloodied his nose toward the end of a pivotal playoff game that took four hours to play and three overtimes to decide. Unlike the first four games New Jersey and Detroit played, it wasn't a blowout, the home team didn't win, and one of the stars was a player only die-hard basketball fans even know. Richard Jefferson scored 18 of his 31 points after regulation, and reserve Brian Scalabrine had a career-high 17 points last night to lead the Nets to a 127-120 victory over the Pistons -- and a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal.

WASHINGTON - In a way, it wasn’t just a taunt, it was an insult to a team that made locking down scorers its business. Caron Butler, one of the last pillars of the disaster area that is the Washington Wizards, was pinned in the corner by Brian Scalabrine near the Celtics’ bench. Butler tried a crossover, but he lost the dribble. He picked the ball back up and heaved a three with Scalabrine extending his arm in a futile attempt to block it. After it splashed through the net, the look on his face said, “He can’t guard me’’ and the gesture with his hand - slashing motion across...

PHILADELPHIA - Ray Allen's reputation has caught up with him. The 76ers paid special attention to Allen in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, limiting him to one field goal attempt - a first-half layup. "I think about what I've been able to do in this league over the course of my career," Allen said before Game 4 Friday night. "To be able to be regarded as one of the greatest shooters of all time, now it's at a point where it hurts me because no one wants me to take a shot.

WASHINGTON -- They announced a sellout last night at the MCI Center. Never mind that half the place was empty, a tribute to the hold the Redskins have on the self-proclaimed world's most powerful city. When they play, the city pretty much stops. So all those folks who bought tickets to the game stayed home to watch football -- and they ended up missing quite a finish. It was a finish that left Doc Rivers steaming -- and the Washington Wizards mighty grateful. The Celtics lost this one, 103-102, as Gilbert Arenas made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to avoid what would have been a...

WASHINGTON - In a way, it wasn’t just a taunt, it was an insult to a team that made locking down scorers its business. Caron Butler, one of the last pillars of the disaster area that is the Washington Wizards, was pinned in the corner by Brian Scalabrine near the Celtics’ bench. Butler tried a crossover, but he lost the dribble. He picked the ball back up and heaved a three with Scalabrine extending his arm in a futile attempt to block it. After it splashed through the net, the look on his face said, “He can’t guard me’’ and the gesture with his hand -...

INDIANAPOLIS - Twenty years ago, Larry Bird was the star on a Celtics team that started the season 6-0. Last night, Bird was in the stands to see the next Celtics squad to start 6-0. Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish were the star trio back in 1987. Now led by a star trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, the NBA's only unbeaten squad defeated the Pacers, 101-86, at Conseco Fieldhouse. Pierce scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Boston.

WALTHAM - The Celtics were on afterburners as they crashed out of the playoffs Sunday night. But, after being eliminated by the Orlando Magic, 101-82, in Game 7 of their second-round series, they seemed refreshed and ready to start preparing for next season. "It's finally sunk in," forward Brian Scalabrine said after players and coaches met yesterday. "Our team, at full strength, we're right up there with everyone else. [Sunday] night's game could have gone either way - they obviously beat us - but we could be in the Eastern Conference final right now. One thing is,...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - It never got out of hand. Brook Lopez drilled a 19-footer, Rafer Alston drained a 3-pointer from 25 feet, and in less than a minute, the Nets gave the Celtics a nice little pop on the chin. But New Jersey’s early lead was never larger than a couple of baskets, and the Celtics were never out of striking distance, which was what Doc Rivers was hoping for. His team had played eight games in 12 days, more than any other team in the league. Whether the Celtics wanted to admit it or not, fatigue was setting in and execution was suffering, particularly...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - It never got out of hand. Brook Lopez drilled a 19-footer, Rafer Alston drained a 3-pointer from 25 feet, and in less than a minute, the Nets gave the Celtics a nice little pop on the chin. But New Jersey’s early lead was never larger than a couple of baskets, and the Celtics were never out of striking distance, which was what Doc Rivers was hoping for. His team had played eight games in 12 days, more than any other team in the league. Whether the Celtics wanted to admit it or not, fatigue was setting in and execution was suffering, particularly on the defensive end. ...

CLEVELAND - Celtics forward Glen Davis sustained a broken thumb Sunday night in an altercation with a former college teammate, according to a league source. Another league source confirmed the injury will require surgery and will keep Davis out indefinitely. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said yesterday he “would not confirm or deny’’ reports surrounding the injury. Davis missed practice yesterday at the team’s facility in Waltham, Mass., and did not travel to Cleveland for tonight’s season opener against the Cavaliers.

WALTHAM - The Celtics were on afterburners as they crashed out of the playoffs Sunday night. But, after being eliminated by the Orlando Magic, 101-82, in Game 7 of their second-round series, they seemed refreshed and ready to start preparing for next season. "It's finally sunk in," forward Brian Scalabrine said after players and coaches met yesterday. "Our team, at full strength, we're right up there with everyone else. [Sunday] night's game could have gone either way - they obviously beat us - but we could be in the Eastern Conference final right now. One thing...

With the fans, it's always about the history, which is fine for the fans. But the fans don't actually play the game. "Yeah, we've been through Game 7's," says Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Too many of them. It's nice to hear your own crowd, but it all comes down to execution. " The Celtics are 20-5 lifetime in Game 7's, 17-3 at home. They are 3-0 in Game 7's during this Big Three Era, if you like. That, more than anything, concerns Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy. "I don't think what happened in the old days means anything," says the voluble Magic mentor.

INDIANAPOLIS - Twenty years ago, Larry Bird was the star on a Celtics team that started the season 6-0. Last night, Bird was in the stands to see the next Celtics squad to start 6-0. Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish were the star trio back in 1987. Now led by a star trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, the NBA's only unbeaten squad defeated the Pacers, 101-86, at Conseco Fieldhouse. Pierce scored a game-high 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Boston.

WALTHAM -- If it were only a matter of raw talent, the Celtics would be going deep into the 2007 playoffs. "As far as raw talent is concerned, we'd have to be up there," agrees coach Doc Rivers. "Teams like Miami, Dallas, San Antonio, and Detroit have both raw talent and experience, but I think we really are talented in that way. And I'd rather have some kind of talent. " The Celtics have young talent, all right, and the embodiment of all that enticing raw skill is Gerald Green.

WALTHAM -- If it were only a matter of raw talent, the Celtics would be going deep into the 2007 playoffs. "As far as raw talent is concerned, we'd have to be up there," agrees coach Doc Rivers. "Teams like Miami, Dallas, San Antonio, and Detroit have both raw talent and experience, but I think we really are talented in that way. And I'd rather have some kind of talent. " The Celtics have young talent, all right, and the embodiment of all that enticing raw skill is Gerald Green.

WALTHAM -- One down. Two to go. The Celtics finally waived mid-summer trade acquisition Qyntel Woods yesterday, whittling the number of roster players with guaranteed contracts from 18 to 17. During training camp, executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers must cut two more players to reach the maximum of 15. Those decisions will be weighed carefully in the most competitive training camp of the Ainge Era....

WASHINGTON -- They announced a sellout last night at the MCI Center. Never mind that half the place was empty, a tribute to the hold the Redskins have on the self-proclaimed world's most powerful city. When they play, the city pretty much stops. So all those folks who bought tickets to the game stayed home to watch football -- and they ended up missing quite a finish. It was a finish that left Doc Rivers steaming -- and the Washington Wizards mighty grateful. The Celtics lost this one, 103-102, as Gilbert Arenas made two free throws with 3.5 seconds left to avoid what would have been a humiliating...

WALTHAM -- One down. Two to go. The Celtics finally waived mid-summer trade acquisition Qyntel Woods yesterday, whittling the number of roster players with guaranteed contracts from 18 to 17. During training camp, executive director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers must cut two more players to reach the maximum of 15. Those decisions will be weighed carefully in the most competitive training camp of the Ainge Era....