- (Sports Network) - (Sports Network) - Now that their 17th NBA championship banner is hanging from the rafters and the rings have been distributed among the players, the Boston Celtics will welcome the Chicago Bulls tonight for a showdown at TD Banknorth Garden. Boston celebrated its championship from last season before Tuesday's 90-85 home victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Finals MVP Paul Pierce was emotional during the ring ceremony, then went out and scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-19 shooting in more than 38 minutes of action.

Rajon Rondo added 14 points and six assists, Leon Powe netted 13 points off the bench and Kevin Garnett finished with 11 and six boards for the Celtics. Tonight, Garnett will become the youngest player in NBA history to reach 1,000 career games, setting the mark at 32 years and 165 days to break the previous mark held by former Sonics star Shawn Kemp. Kemp set the mark when he was 33 years and 24 days.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are coming off Tuesday's 108-95 home win over the Milwaukee Bucks in head coach Vinny Del Negro's debut. No. 1 overall draft pick Derrick Rose had 11 points and nine assists in his NBA debut and Luol Deng contributed 21 points. Tyrus Thomas chipped in 15 points and 10 rebounds while Drew Gooden helped out with 13 points and eight boards.

Ben Gordon had 18 points for the Bulls, who defeated former head coach and current Milwaukee general Scott Skiles. Chicago is off to a good start following a 33-49 season a year ago.

In injury news for the Bulls, Rose (thigh) and Thomas (ankle) are both probable for Friday's game.

Boston won all four meetings with Chicago last season, but the Bulls are 10-6 in the past 16 meetings in this series.

Chicago lost both meetings in Beantown in 2007-08.



Copyright 2008 The Sports Network
All rights reserved