Sports Redux: Happy Homecoming

It started with a welcome sight: the Celtics playing at home for the first time in months and months (it seemed). It had a great moment when Eddie House came back, if you can call it back, since he hadn't missed any home games, and got and gave back all appropriate love from the Garden crowd. And, most importantly, it ended with a win, as the Celtics survived another big-lead-giveaway and held on to beat the Knicks 110-106.

And they did it shorthanded, which shouldn't be a big surprise, as Paul Pierce's right thumb caused him no end of grief towards the end of the recent Western swing. Combine that with a case of flu, and the Truth wasn't even in the building last night. Marquis Daniels took his starting spot and did fine, scoring 14. The big offensive stars were Rondo (15 pts, 16 assists) and Ray Allen (24 points), with Ray coming up superbig on the defensive end, and knocking a desperation shot away from Wilson Chandler to force a turnover with 48 seconds to go. It wasa fine defensive play in a game in which D took a back seat to the run-and-gun style the Knicks love and the C's often get caught up in in spite of their best intentions.

Eddie House was the first Knick off the bench; the Jumbotron saluted him with a video highlight reel in a timeout, he got a long standing-O from the crowd, and he gave it back with a big wave and fist pump. "It was no big deal," said Eddie.

Pierce may be on the shelf for a while; he doesn't really know. The bad news about that is the next game's tomorrow against Cleveland; the good news is that game's followed with a lot of matchups with the sludge of the East (lots of Bucks, Bobcats and Sixers on the menu, along with the ever-welcome Nets).

With the controversy-free Red Sox spring training camp in full swing, Tony Massarotti reminds us there are clouds on the horizon, as Terry Francona has to juggle the needs of the club with his loyalty to guys who seem to be past their prime. Exhibit A is Mike Lowell, who talked to the press about his unclear status. When asked what he'll remember most about his years here, Lowell replied, "I’m not dead...I have a lot of good memories, but that doesn’t mean it’s over." Better news comes from the first impressions of shortstop Jose Iglesias, whose slick fielding has turned heads, and once he figures out the bat, he might be the first long-term answer for the Sox at short since [note to self: look up the last long-term answer the Sox had at short].

Boston sports got some sad news this morning. Mosi Tatupu, one of the bright spots in some long, dark years in Foxborough, passed away last night at 54 of unspecified causes. Tatupu was a fan favorite, was referenced on the Simpsons, and stayed in the community, where he coached the high school team at King Philip for several years. The Globe's got a photo remembrance section.