Now that it’s over, the Celtics could concede that this was no ordinary game. As Kevin Garnett walked to the podium in the room usually reserved for games deep in the playoffs and eyed the small army of cameras and media, he turned to Paul Pierce and said, “Are we in the Finals already?”

No, the Celtics are not in the Finals yet, and as the Miami Heat showed Tuesday night, both teams have a long way to go before they can start making plans for a late-June run.

At times the Celtics were spectacular, especially defensively, as they held Miami to 36 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers. There were also times when their offense deserted them and they were forced to rely on Ray Allen and Pierce’s deadly 3-point shooting (a combined 8-for-12).

It all added up to an 88-80 victory that was both satisfying and draining. (Click here for a full recap). Pierce played 40 minutes despite going back to the locker room for a stretch of the second half after taking a huge hit from LeBron James. Allen clocked in with 40 minutes and Garnett played 35, to say nothing of Rajon Rondo’s 41 minutes.

So, no, this was no ordinary game, especially with the second night of a back-to-back looming in Cleveland Wednesday night.

“The one thing I didn’t like in this game, and you’re going to have these games every once in a while, we played too many minutes with some of our guys,” Rivers said. “We knew that going into the game, and for the first 10 with Delonte [West], we’re going to have to stretch minutes a little bit, but that’s not something I want to get used to.”

This is the compromise Rivers is going to have to make this season as he tries to balance short-term rewards with long-term plans. Rivers has an established track record on this and there was no arguing with the result.

“It was a big game,” Rivers said. “It was a fun game. They’re going to get a lot better when we see them again, and hopefully we are as well.”

If there’s one thing that was reinforced, however, it’s that the Celtics have a foundation to build upon and it showed itself in the most pivotal moment of the night.

TRUST IN THE CELTICS BIG THREE

Pierce has seen this play out so many times that he’s almost not surprised anymore when Allen takes, and makes, a huge 3-pointer with the game on the line. But take it for granted? No sir.

“I’ve been a witness to the last three years, and he’s one of the best players I’ve ever played with,” Pierce said. “It’s an honor just to be able to step on the court with him night in and night out. You’ve got a guy that can take that kind of pressure of you, it’s an amazing feeling.”

The play encapsulated everything that the Celtics are about. Close game, time running down, Pierce stuck in a bad spot and making the extra pass to one of the greatest shooters who has ever stepped on the court. It’s talent, it’s trust and it’s experience.

Rivers told his team in the huddle that if they if make the extra pass, the man will be open, and as the play unfolded, Pierce did exactly that. “He didn’t have to make that pass,” Rivers said. “But he did and it was great.”

Allen finished with a team-high 20 points. Pierce filled the stat sheet with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists and Garnett showed flashes of the KG of old with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

It wasn’t necessarily vintage, but it was a strong reminder that the Celtics version of the Big Three not only works because they are great players, but also because they play so well together.

The Heat, meanwhile, are still working things out. This was painfully obvious at times when their best play was little more than an old 90’s trick: isolation. Time and again, they simply put the ball in James’ hands and let him work.

For all the criticism he has taken, let no one dispute that James is a phenomenal basketball player. He scored 31 points with a combination of outside shooting and audacious drives to the basket.

Dwyane Wade, on the other hand, was clearly not in game shape as his 4-for-16 performance indicated. “This was first, LeBron’s and my first, preseason game,” Wade said in a quote that will be widely dissected and quickly trashed. 

As for Chris Bosh, he’s had better days, as his eight points and eight rebounds indicated. They will all get better, but as the Celtics will tell you, it takes time. And trust.

“In order for them to get better they’re going to have to go through rough days and dog days, and that’s part of it,” Garnett said. “Lord knows we went through ours, and we learned from it. And I’m pretty sure they’ll do the same.”

THE SHAQ EFFECT

Shaquille O’Neal’s impact goes well beyond whatever happens on the court. He has been a breath of fresh air on a team that has been known for its dour expressions. His act -- part stand-up, part living museum exhibit -- may have worn thin in other places, but on a team this secure in itself it’s been exactly the right fit.

But on the court, Shaq made his presence felt with nine points, seven rebounds and a couple of well-placed hard fouls. Truth be told, it could have been even better as he himself admitted. 

“I had a couple of early-game jitters,” he said. “I missed a couple of chippies but Rondo threw me a lob. I ran the court, he gave it back to me.”

Rondo (17 assists and only three turnovers) made a point of looking for his big man and Shaq responded in kind. “He’s the perfect point guard,” O’Neal said. “He knows where all his guys are, he led us and he didn’t let us panic on the floor. Great player.”

Beyond the production -- and again, it was solid but not spectacular -- the simple act of Shaq being on the court paid dividends. In the third quarter, he helped the Celtics get in the bonus by absorbing fouls.

“We’re not a team that usually gets in the bonus that early, and that’s the presence that he brings,” Pierce said.

“You have to pay attention to him when he’s on the floor,” Garnett added.

Interestingly, Shaq wasn’t on the floor in the fourth quarter, and that brings up what may have been the most positive development of the night for the Celtics: Glen Davis.

BIG BABY FOR SIXTH MAN OF THE YEAR

As a decent-sized gathering of cameras and digital recorders approached Davis after the game, he looked up and said, “Doc must have said some nice things about me before the game.”

Actually, he did. Rivers suggested that Davis would play more minutes than Shaq and Jermaine O’Neal and it was no surprise that Davis logged 29 minutes of court time with about 18 or so coming at the five spot and all but 27 seconds of the fourth quarter.

Davis made all three of his shots in the fourth quarter and finished with 13 points and five rebounds. If he can continue that kind of production, there’s no reason why Davis can’t be in the running for the Sixth Man of the Year award.

“I feel as a player, you go through ups and downs and you learn, there’s a point in time, hey, what else can I learn?” Davis said. “You can learn here and there, but learning the game and how Doc wants it to be played, I’ve been here four years and it’s like graduation. Now I just have to play the game.”

This is the role that Davis can play for the Celtics and if he performs it well, he will get everything that he wants out of his contract year. He seems to understand that now.

“Whatever’s for me is going to be for me,” Davis said. “I’m just going to enjoy the moment and understand what I’m truly here for and understand when you sacrifice for yourself great things are waiting at the end. That’s what I’m all about.”