Bird Plays 30 Minutes as Celtics Defeat Nets
Larry Bird, making his first game appearance in 11 months, played 30 minutes Friday night in helping the Boston Celtics to a 96-74 National Basketball Assn. exhibition victory over the New Jersey Nets.
Bird, who underwent surgery on both ankles last Nov. 19, and then suffered a small bone fracture in his back in preseason training in late July, scored 13 points, had eight rebounds and eight assists.
He was a little rusty though, making just four of 12 field-goal attempts and missing his only two shots from three-point range. He also committed seven turnovers.
“This was just preseason,” Bird said. “It was by no means an indication of what I can do.”
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