In search of regular work

Star trio to get the call tonight

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce will shift into regular-season gear when the Celtics meet the New York Knicks tonight at TD Banknorth Garden. All three watched all of the Celtics' 111-108 exhibition victory over the New Jersey Nets last night.

Starters Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo were accompanied by Tony Allen, Leon Powe, and J.R. Giddens from the opening tipoff.

Giddens provided the clinching defensive play, stripping Chris Douglas-Roberts and converting a foul shot with 3.3 seconds remaining as the Celtics improved to 4-1.

The Celtics started slowly, failing to score from the field until Giddens's transition layup 5:10 into the contest. Yi Jianlian gave the Nets a 17-3 advantage with 5:44 left, but Allen (game-high 32 points) ignited a rally, scoring his first points with a 3-pointer seconds later.

Allen's drives kept the referees busy: Jianlian committed four fouls in the first seven minutes, and Brook Lopez had four fouls in five first-half minutes. As a result, the Nets started giving him room on the perimeter in the second quarter.

But Allen continued to score, hitting four successive shots in a 2:19 span late in the half, his jumper tying the score at 51 with 1:18 remaining.

Eddie House's 3-pointer gave the Celtics' their first lead of the game, 54-52, with 46 seconds to go.

After a back-and-forth third quarter, the visitors stretched their advantage to 110-102 on Powe's free throw with 38 seconds left before a hectic finish in a nearly empty Izod Center.

"Tony was under control and he made passes as well," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He was hot during that period [in the first half] and so was Eddie, so it wasn't just the Tony show, and he got that."

Growing pains

Giddens struggled offensively in his first extended action of the preseason (19 minutes), but energized the Celtics defensively.

"I am trying to be all over the court and show the coaches I can help this team defensively," Giddens said. "I do the little things and bring some energy."

Giddens also was whistled for a technical in the final quarter.

"J.R. can be a really good defensive player," Rivers said. "The lesson for him is don't get T's in the fourth quarter. [The first three quarters] we can live with, but in the fourth quarter you can't make up that basket."

Evaluations coming

The Celtics will not make a roster move until the week of the season opener, Oct. 28 against Cleveland, general manager Danny Ainge said.

"I'll sit down with the coaching staff and figure out what we are going to do," Ainge said. "We evaluate every game and practice. Practices are important. We are evaluating players every day, and not just the 14th and 15th guys. We are evaluating who is going to be the eighth and ninth guys. We are making all sorts of evaluations."

Gabe Pruitt (14 points, 7 assists, 0 turnovers) played more than anyone last night (29:34) while combining effectively with House in the backcourt.

"Gabe adds a lot to the defense," Ainge said. "He has the offensive skills and he has been showing what he can do defensively. We've always loved Gabe. He had a terrific training camp in Rome last year. But Doc didn't get an opportunity to evaluate him as much because we were doing so much with Rajon and Eddie."

Sam Cassell, the Celtics' most experienced point guard, will make his exhibition debut tonight, Rivers said. Cassell signed a one-year guaranteed contract last month and is likely playing his final NBA season. "We know everything we need to know about Sam," Ainge said.

Rivers said Cassell has been functioning as an assistant coach in the preseason but will "definitely" play this season.

The stoppers

The Celtics have now concluded four successive games by blocking the opposition's final meaningful shot. The plays were made by Bill Walker against Cleveland (96-94 win), Darius Miles against Houston (90-89), Powe against Cleveland in Pittsburgh Tuesday, and Giddens last night.

"The script is to be like the '85 Chicago Bears: You want to be on defense at the end of the game," Rivers said. "They have done that without having the starters on the floor. They've made the stops."

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.