NBA notebook: Boston’s bench delivers

BOSTON – Their reserves have been strong in the postseason and were expected to give the Los Angeles Lakers an advantage against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

Instead, Phil Jackson somewhat ignored them in the opener.

The Celtics’ reserves outplayed their counterparts in Boston’s 98-88 Game 1 win, and Jackson took the blame Friday.

“I really shortened the minutes of the bench last night, so that’s not their fault about not scoring and no productivity,” Jackson said. “The adjustments that our younger players will make, our bench players will be noticeable as we go through.”

Sasha Vujacic, Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf (Gonzaga University) and Luke Walton combined for 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting. Only Vujacic played more than 14 minutes.

James Posey, P.J. Brown, Sam Cassell and Leon Powe totaled 17 points off Boston’s bench. Cassell scored eight, and Brown pulled down six rebounds before exiting to a loud ovation late in the game.

“We feel like we have a good bench,” Brown said. “We feel like we have a bench that can match up with most of the teams in the NBA. Are we better? I think that remains to be seen. This is only one game.”

Still, most of Boston’s reserves had been inconsistent during the postseason, with coach Doc Rivers giving them fluctuating minutes. Meanwhile, the Lakers’ second unit had been successful, playing an up-tempo style when Kobe Bryant was on the bench and helping Los Angeles become the highest-scoring team in the playoffs.

The Celtics kept the game at their tempo Thursday, which Vujacic said must change, adding that the bench “wasn’t there the way we were supposed to be there and I think we can do a much better job.”

Perkins will return

Celtics center Kendrick Perkins, who was injured in the third quarter Thursday night and did not return, said he’ll be back for Game 2.

“Yeah, I’m going to play,” he said. “You know, there’s going to be pain. It’s the finals, so you’ve got to suck it up.”

Perkins was hurt when he was trying to box Derek Fisher out on a free throw and the Lakers guard fell on his left ankle.

Reign in Spain

Pau Gasol’s NBA Finals debut drew huge media attention from his native Spain. He would have liked to give the home fans a better performance.

Gasol scored well in the first half but didn’t rebound, and went to the boards better but had only one field goal in the second half. He finished with 15 points and eight rebounds.

A record 27 media members from Spain were among the 280 international media members, also a record, from 35 countries and territories who are on site covering the finals.