Shaq makes Celtics debut in 93-65 win
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Shaquille O'Neal scored eight points in his debut with the Boston Celtics and the defending Eastern Conference champions opened their preseason with a 93-65 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night.
Ray Allen led Boston with 14 points, including two 3-pointers, while Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Semih Erden both had 13 points.
But it was "The Diesel's Debut" that grabbed much of the attention.
"I'm just trying to get into it with the guys," he said. "Just trying to stay a thousand percent healthy, because, in a couple a weeks, you know, it's for all the marbles."
The Celtics, who lost an epic Game 7 of the NBA finals to the Los Angeles Lakers, returned coach Doc Rivers, who considered retirement, as well as Allen and Paul Pierce - both of whom could have left via free agency.
"I didn't really know what to expect," Rivers said. "Our defense was phenomenal."
The Celtics signed the large O'Neal - Shaquille - along with Jermaine O'Neal and Delonte West, hoping to add depth to a bench that will need to offer support for aging stars Kevin Garnett, Pierce and Allen.
Boston led 49-22 at halftime after the 76ers shot 16 percent (5 of 31). Led by Allen's 10 points in the opening half, the Celtics shot 57 percent.
"You know, I sort of expected this tonight," Philadelphia coach Doug Collins said. "I mean, we did not have our key guys."
Collins said he didn't play forward Elton Brand and guard Andre Iguodala because the team "hadn't had a day off yet." He said the team would be off on Thursday.
