Sports Redux: You Can Go Home Again

If you're going to have a triumphant homecoming, it helps when you're playing the Timberwolves. That's the lesson from last night, as Kevin Garnett played his first game back in his old arena, and clearly illustrated the difference between NBA Champs and a miserable team, as the Celtics cruised to a 95-78 blowout.

KG missed the game in "'Sota", as he's always called it, last year with an injury. But he was there last night, and as Doc Rivers said, he "almost talked himself into not being too emotional" in the first half, and the C's let the Wolves hang around. Then came the 35-10 third quarter, with 14 unanswered Boston points, that sealed the game. Kevin led the way with 17, and with Minnesota at 2-9 with mostly old Celtics, it might be nice today to send a follow-up thank you card to Danny Ainge.

The Bruins took care of business as well, winning their seventh straight game at the Garden by beating Florida 4-2. Phil Kessel and Patrice Bergeron scored in the first period, David Krejci and Marc Savard in the second, and Tim Thomas had another great day in net, saving 30 Florida shots.

The B's now are tied with the Rangers for the top spot in the Prince of Wales Eastern Conference. Now it's back to Montreal tonight and the renewal of that mean rivalry, which should be keyed up by the emotional retiring of Patrick Roy's number. Milan Lucic and Aaron Ward whupped a couple of Panthers last night, so they're tuned up for the game.

BC heads to North Carolina to lay Wake Forest. With two very winnable games (Wake and Maryland) left, the Eagles have their sights set on playing in the ACC Championship game, but don't want to get overconfident. "Each of these games are separate, each of these games have their own certain meaning." explains Chris Crane. Something we'd all do well to remember, especially once the Sox start playing again.

Photo by Jim Mone/AP.