Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and Larry Bird enjoyed some great moments in the old Boston gym, but not one of those Garden gods ever vaulted out of a wheelchair to lead the Celtics to victory in the NBA Finals.

That's what Paul Pierce did in Boston's 98-88 win over the Lakers in Game 1 last night. Carried off the floor midway through the third quarter, placed in a chair that made him look like an ER patient at Massachusetts General Hospital, Pierce returned after a 1-minute-45-second absence, drilled a couple of stake-driving 3-pointers, and willed the Green to victory.