Their reputation long enshrined as the toughest, orneriest bunch of geezers on the block, Rajon Rondo added another piece to the legend that will one day be passed down about this group of Celtics.

Years from now, they will say how Rondo beat LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the Heat with literally one good arm. And if Johnny Most was still around -- God bless him and his ever-burning cigarette -- he would have told how Rondo held off a dastardly sneak attack by Wade that sent him crashing to the floor with a sickeningly Theismann-esque thud.

Somewhere in between lies the reality and helps tell an even greater story about this Celtics team. You may beat them. You may push them to the brink. But if you’re going to take them out it will require a silver bullet with a stake through the heart and even then it’s probably best to double-check for vital signs.

“Regardless of all the injuries we have, we’re a no-excuse team,” Rondo said. “You may see me hold my arm but I’m not going to use it as an excuse. That’s how we play. That’s our mentality. We show up Monday night on the court, don’t ask me how I feel. I’m going to play regardless. I’m not going to use it as an excuse. We’re a no-excuse team.”

To which Kevin Garnett added, “If you’re not going to play don’t get suited up.”

They were down two games to none for the first time in this era, playing against two superstars at the height of their powers with a bench that can’t hold a lead. There isn’t a single player on the roster who isn’t dealing with some ailment at this point. Achilles (plural), wrists, backs, bruises, sprains; you name it, team trainer Eddie Lacerte and Dr. Brian McKeon have treated it. But this was something different.

When Rondo was taken down by Wade with about seven minutes left in the third quarter Sunday night in Game 3 everything was in doubt: the series, the season, maybe even Rondo’s career. The thought certainly hung in the air alongside the anxiety that was thick in the overheated Garden crowd.

At that exact moment, however, Rondo had an even bigger problem. “Thank God for Kevin because I was having trouble breathing,” Rondo said. “I just keep hearing him tell me to breathe.”

Garnett flashed back to a different scene. His mind took him back to February when Marquis Daniels lay motionless on the court and set forth a landslide of change that the Celtics are still figuring out. “It’s someone’s father,” Garnett said. “It’s someone’s brother. Someone’s son is lying on the floor hurt.”

For his part Wade said, “I’m not a dirty player.” Later he added, “We play this game as competitors. We never want to see anyone hurt, whether it’s a friend or not a friend.”

Eventually, Rondo got up on his feet. He was taken back to the locker room with Lacerte and McKeon. The diagnosis was a dislocated left elbow. Rondo’s face betrayed exactly zero emotion. According to a source they were able to begin treatment before the muscle started to spasm, which was the key to his surprising return. 

Rondo returned to the bench at the start of the fourth quarter with no fanfare. He simply appeared. There was talk of how inspiring it was, like Willis Reed dragging his leg onto the court to rescue the Knicks or Larry Bird playing with a broken face. The thing about the Celtics, however, is they don’t really do inspiration. When it comes to injuries and the like, they are far beyond that point.

“When he came back I said, ‘Well, definitely have no excuse,’” said Delonte West who is dealing with his own shoulder injury that Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “Could be worse than we thought.”  

His left arm dangling essentially useless by his side, Rondo immediately snatched a rebound with his one good arm. He dribbled almost exclusively with his right and made one-handed passes. It was preposterous, really, like the Black Knight in the Holy Grail saying it’s only a flesh wound.

“All of us sort of looked at each other like, ‘What’s he doing out here?’ Is he being smart right now?” Garnett said. “When he came back in, it was just typical Rondo. Shorty’s a real tough young individual and I don’t know what he’s going to be like when he’s 35 but right now he’s playing through a lot. We see it. That doesn’t go unspoken or unseen.”

Rondo’s done this all season. He’s played through plantar fasciitis, a finger than rang out in pain whenever he touched the ball and who could forget the night he returned in New York after the ball of his ankle twisted so severely that it actually made contact with the floor? He long ago earned his stripes and his teammates’ respect.

He played all 12 minutes of the fourth quarter, scoring his first points of the game including a breakaway dunk. He had only one assist, but no turnovers. He was fearless, but safe. “It was stiff but the main thing tonight -- obviously it’s going to be in pain -- but what makes it feel better is we got the win,” Rondo said.

The Celtics got the win and that, for now, saves their season. They don’t know when they convene Sunday in Waltham for practice whether Rondo will be with them, or West for that matter.

“It’s a major concern,” Rivers said. “You can play with a lot of adrenaline. We’ve seen people play with broken feet and stuff like that. Honestly, moving forward we’ll have to see. It’s going to be interesting. I’ll put it that way.”

The realist in you sees the landscape. The Celtics are still down 2-1 and it took every ounce of energy to get that one win. They will have to win three of the next four with two injured point guards. It took Garnett scoring 28 points to go with 18 rebounds in a performance that shouldn’t be overshadowed or taken for granted. It took Paul Pierce outplaying James on both ends of the floor for all four quarters. It even took eight and half minutes of Shaquille O’Neal, with his legs wrapped up like a mummy. But still, they live. 

When it was over, a fan rushed to the railing that overlooks the tunnel that takes them back to the locker room. He leaned over and yelled at Lacerte, “Great job, Eddie! Good work tonight.”

Lacerte smiled a little. His work never seems to end with this team. But until it does they’ll keep playing because whatever you say about this Celtics team they’ll keep playing until the bitter, final end.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys like that,” Rivers said. “I’ve talked about it. It’s just ballers. Guys who like playing basketball and they just play. They find a way.”