Moisture puts a damper on Celtics game

WORCESTER - After last night, Celtics guard Ray Allen will always have an odd story to tell every time he drives past this city.

The Celtics exhibition game against the Nets last night was canceled at halftime because of condensation on the DCU Center floor. The very disgruntled fans, 10,625 in attendance, booed when the decision to call it a day was announced. What made the situation crazier was countless fans swarmed the Celtics during an impromptu autograph session after the cancellation.

"You can chalk it up to one of those odd nights," said Allen, who lives in the Hartford area in the offseason. "There are always stories. Any time from now when I drive through Worcester on the way back home, I'll think about this night. And if there is anyone around me, I'll tell them this story."

The Celtics will offer fans who attended discounted tickets for a future home game or a full refund. Detailed instructions will be announced today.

When asked if the Celtics should be blamed for an unsuitable floor, Celtics co-managing partner Steve Pagliuca said, "We feel the fans came to see a game and the game couldn't be played. It doesn't matter whose fault it is."

The Nets canceled their shootaround yesterday morning because of the slick court. The concerned Celtics also knew about the poor conditions on their drive from Waltham. Several Celtics let coach Doc Rivers know their concerns before the game. The ball boys were asked to dry the court, which has a sheet of ice underneath.

Allen, who missed the final 17 games of last season with Seattle because of a left ankle injury, slipped and fell in the first quarter and his right hand was stepped on by one of the Nets. Celtics guard Tony Allen, who missed the last 48 games last season because of knee surgery, played 29 seconds at the start of the second quarter before a nervous Rivers pulled him. The Celtics held a 36-33 halftime lead.

"I was sliding everywhere," Ray Allen said. "I was a more leery every time I was coming to the basket because I was slipping."

Said Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, "It was unusual. I've never been in a situation like that."

Some fans cursed loudly after the announcement, while others threw things on the court.

"It was pretty unanimous amongst the players and the officials and the coaches that the game should be called," said Celtics director of basketball operations Danny Ainge.

To try to ease the fans' pain, the Celtics sat behind tables on both baselines to sign autographs. But with undermanned security, the fan situation became overwhelming. With players nearby, one fan said the conditions were great for a pickpocket. Celtics forward Paul Pierce became nervous after becoming surrounded and went to the locker room. One security official also rushed Ray Allen, Garnett, and other players to their locker room because he was worried the stands might collapse.

"We were concerned," Worcester sheriff M.A. Towner said. "We started suggesting it was time for the players to leave the court."

While on his way to the locker room, Celtic Brian Scalabrine shook his head and said, "That was nuts."

As wild as the scene was, Garnett, Allen, and several other Celtics did their best to try to accommodate fans with autographs.

"As it started getting crazy, I started to get my back toward the exit because it was out of control," Garnett said. "I didn't feel it was safe for no one out there with all the people so excited about being on the floor. I thought we did a pretty good job of signing as many autographs as we could."

Rivers said the trio of Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen will play in about eight quarters of the four games on this road trip. While all three are expected to play tonight against the 76ers at Mohegan Sun, Rivers said they all will sit out either at New York Monday or New Jersey Tuesday.

Former Celtics great Bob Cousy has already made one early wish for his birthday Aug. 9: a 17th NBA title for the Celtics. "I'll be 80 my next birthday. I'd like to see one more flag go up before the pine box," the Hall of Famer said . . . Boston College men's basketball coach Al Skinner attended the game to watch his former player, Nets rookie Sean Williams. "He got a couple cheap fouls so we really couldn't see what he could do," Skinner said. "He's going to continue to work and add something to the team. I'm pretty excited for him." . . . Rivers said he was in no rush to make roster moves, and that they won't happen until after the Celtics return home.