NEW YORK -- One of the greats to wear green, Paul Pierce found it strange playing for the other side. "It was a little weird looking over and seeing all the green uniforms," he said of his first game against the Boston Celtics. "Im used to lining up in the green and white for so long." Pierce made just one basket but grabbed 10 rebounds and added five assists to help the Brooklyn Nets beat the Celtics 82-80 on Tuesday night in the first matchup between the teams since a blockbuster trade on draft night. Brook Lopez scored 20 points and Andrey Blatche had 14 starting in place of Kevin Garnett for the Nets, who won it when Chris Johnson made two free throws with 7.0 seconds left after the game was tied at 80. Pierce finished 1 of 6, his only basket a driving layup with 6.2 seconds left in the first half in the first meeting between the teams since the deal that sent Pierce and Garnett to Brooklyn. Coach Jason Kidd told Pierce to treat it like a green and white scrimmage -- and the white pulled it out. "I thought he handled it well, as any professional would," Kidd said. Courtney Lee led the Celtics with 14 points but missed a potential tying jumper in the final seconds. Pierce was the first Nets starter announced after he was always the last guy called in Boston. Originally shaken by the trade, he seemed to enjoy reminders of his past and catching up with his old teammates. He had a chat with Rajon Rondo by the Celtics bench while the Nets were shooting free throws, and later said something that drew a smile from Avery Bradley after blocking the guards shot. Pierce also visited the Celtics in their locker room before the game to wish them luck this season. "It was weird at first, but its at a point now where people just got to get used to it," Celtics forward Jeff Green said of the trade. Pierce spent 15 years with the Celtics and is second on their career scoring list and was the MVP of the 2008 NBA Finals. He knows he has a lesser role on a deep Nets team, but wont accept that his days as an elite scorer are over. "I still have it in the tank," he said. "When the big games come, I still am more than capable." Garnett didnt play as part of a regularly scheduled night off after the Nets played Monday in Philadelphia. Kidd called it a "reward" for Garnetts good work during the preseason, though Garnett has already made it clear he doesnt want nights off. The Nets were also without Deron Williams, who remains out with a sprained right ankle, and key reserves Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) and Jason Terry (left knee), who was also part of the trade. The Nets host the Miami Heat on Thursday night. They will retire Kidds No. 5 before the game. 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Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators.TSN.cas NHL Play of the Year showdown continues today with a pair of players that are a real pain to play against. The seventh match-up of the Round of 32 sees Anaheim Ducks sniper/bully Corey Perry go up against Boston Bruins pest/point-magnet Brad Marchand. Perrys goal starts with something every elite NHL scorer is able to do on a regular basis: Use exceptional skill to force a defender into taking penalty. He looks to be out of the play after a Calvin de Haan hip-check clips his knee and tumbles him to the ice. However, Perry keeps possession of the puck as the Isles converge on him to try to kill the play by touching the puck. From his knees, Perry has the poise to stickhandle from his backhand to forehand and flip a wrister throughthe nearest daylight he can find: Travis Hamonics legs. The puck pinballs through Hamonics legs, off the keeper and into the net, prompting an emphatic goal call by the ref.dddddddddddd Marchands play is a study in second efforts. The pesky Bruin gets around Drew Doughty and sets up what looks like its going to be an incredible one-on-one effort against Jonathan Quick. Doughtys errant stick, however, breaks up the play before Marchand can get a decent shot off. This is not a problem for Marchand, who collects a poor clearance. He then proceeds to fake out Anze Kopitar and beat Quick five-hole with a quick shot. Doughty and Jeff Carter are left with nothing more to do than to watch it unfold. Not a bad effort when you victimize four Olympians with one play. You can watch the highlights and make your decision here (http://poy.tsn.ca). Every vote counts, so watch all the plays and take part in the TSN.ca Play of the Year Showdown. Let us know who you voted for via Twitter by using the hashtag #tsnklondikepoy. ' ' '