Pruitt gets back in a flash from D-League

CLEVELAND - Gabe Pruitt wore a Utah Flash jersey over the weekend. But he spent no more time in Utah over the holiday than your average traveler changing planes at Salt Lake City.

In fact, he spent Thanksgiving weekend in California, which is home. Family and friends got to see him play twice, once in Anaheim (where he scored 31 points and made the game-winning basket) and once at the Staples Center (where he scored 12 points and his team lost).

Then the guard left the D-League entry, boarded a plane for Cleveland, and joined the Celtics in time for yesterday's shootaround.

"It felt good to be able to get out and play," said Pruitt, who averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 37 minutes in the two games with Utah. "But it feels even better to be back. Now I have to make the most of it."

He didn't get a chance to show anything last night, playing 0 minutes in the Celtics' 109-104 overtime loss.

Coach Doc Rivers said it was unclear how long Pruitt would remain with the parent team. Under NBA rules, a player can be assigned to a D-League affiliate only three times during an NBA season. But Rivers wishes he'd had Pruitt available Monday, when the team had a practice that, the coach said, "wasn't very good.

"We didn't have any guards," Rivers said. "Tony [ Allen] was out. Ray [ Allen] was out. We had to use Glen Davis at [small forward] and James Posey at [shooting guard]. That's not what I want it to be, and it showed."

Tony Allen, still hurting from a Primoz Brezec knee to the right thigh last Saturday, did not play last night. He hopes to be back tomorrow night against the Knicks. Ray Allen, suffering from a mild right ankle sprain, did start and went 49 minutes.

Pruitt flew out to Utah and went through a practice with the team, then immediately left for Southern California. It's not quite the same as traveling with the Celtics.

"Yeah, that's for sure," Pruitt said. "We were all in coach when we flew. We stayed at a Clarion and a Marriott.

"But I also got a chance to play in front of my family, uncles, aunts, mom, and dad, so that part of it was good. I played well in that first game, although the second game wasn't so good. I couldn't get it going." He had nine turnovers in that game.

"I got all these e-mails after the first game," Rivers said. "Then nothing after the second. I didn't even know they played a second game."

Sudden impact

The Celtics got a nice lift from Davis, who came in and played six impact minutes (8 points, 2 rebounds) in the third and fourth quarters. "I was a little surprised I got the call, but you have to be mentally ready when the call does come," Davis said. "I just tried to give us a little spurt, try to help in whatever way I can." . . . The Cavs flew off to Detroit for a game tonight against the Pistons. The Celtics came home and will face the Knicks tomorrow night, a game that will be on TNT. It's been a while since they have been featured on the NBA's prime Thursday night broadcast vehicle. Their previous appearance was March 16, 2006, in Miami. They haven't had a TNT game at home since April 10, 2003, when they hosted the 76ers . . . The Cavaliers bench contributed 8 points and one field goal. But coach Mike Brown, in a head-scratcher of a comment, credited Ira Newble with the winning play for an "unbelievable closeout." He must have missed seeing LeBron James go for 38 points and 13 assists.

Not a heads-up play

Rajon Rondo went headband-less, but it was not by design. "I forgot it," he said. "I'll have it for the next game." Whew . . . James was coming off consecutive triple-doubles, but Rivers was more impressed with what he called the "gaudy" numbers. "He's getting 37 points," said Rivers. "Usually, if you score 37, you don't have time to do anything else." Also, Rivers said, people tend to forget that James is only 22; he turns 23 on Dec. 30. "I think we all forget how young he is, and that he's still going to get better," said Rivers. "And that's a shame if you have to prepare to play against him." . . . Last night was the Cavs' seventh home game; they are 4-3 at the Q. The Cavs also announced a sellout, their fourth, although a lot of fans came to the game dressed as empty seats . . . The Celtics were called for three defensive three-second technicals . . . Drew Gooden had a whopper of a stretch in the third quarter, making all eight of his shots, most of them floaters from 15 feet and beyond. He also made his first shot of the fourth quarter . . . The two teams meet again Sunday afternoon in Boston. For each team, it will be their fourth game in six days.

Minus two

Cleveland was without Larry Hughes, whose annual injury this time is a deep bone bruise in his left leg. Last night's game was the 67th he's missed in just two-plus years with the Cavs. He also missed most of the 2007 NBA Finals. Donyell Marshall (sprained right wrist) also was out . . . There's still no light at the end of the tunnel in the tug-of-war between the Cavs and Anderson Varejao, a restricted free agent. Varejao told ESPN.com that he wanted out of Cleveland, playing the "no respect" card. The Cavs still hope Varejao comes to his senses - he thinks he's worth $10 million a year - and re-signs.