NBA: Doc Rivers leads LA Clippers to victory over former side Boston Celtics

Former Celtics coach Doc Rivers won his first game back in Boston as the Los Angeles Clippers scored a 96-88 victory over is former side.

Chris Paul scored a team-high 22 point with eight assists and seven rebounds, and Jamal Crawford poured in 21 points off the bench as the Los Angeles Clippers and Doc Rivers earned a 96-88 victory over the Celtics at the Garden.

Jeff Green scored a game-high 29 points and Brandon Bass had his second double-double of the season with 17 poitns and 12 rebounds.

It was an emotional night for Doc Rivers, which started off  with a video celebrating his nine years with the Boston Celtics on the TD Garden JumboTron.

Rivers reflected on the night’s action back in the Celtics’ media room.

“I’m still emotional,” said Rivers  “I thought the fans were …”

He breathed deep and paused for eight seconds trying to compose himself. Even when he started back up, he was fighting to keep it together.

“It was just a really nice day,” said Rivers.

“This is just such a classy place here. So it was really nice when I walked out and, you know, I’m not used to walking out on that [visitor’s] side, and all those guys, the people, they lined up and I was basically useless for the first 18 minutes of the game.

“It was just nice. It didn’t surprise me because — you’ve got to live here to understand it — that’s just the way they are. It’s an amazing fan base. It really is. And I just want everything to go well for them.”

A reporter playfully asked if it was too late to change his mind about leaving town.

“I tell you, boy, this is such a neat place,” Rivers gushed.

“I tell people all the time — people don’t get Boston, they really don’t. They don’t understand. And I think you have to be part of it to get it, I really do. I don’t think you can get it from the outside.

“It’s just a special, different place, and people were born here, and raised here, and they cheer for their teams, and they love their athletes. And it’s just a great place to be.”

“The best decision I ever made was 10 years ago, when I decided to come here. That was the best decision I ever made.”

He paused a beat again to collect himself and joked, “Can we now talk about basketball?”