Rivers makes Nets game

E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. – A weary Doc Rivers coached in Saturday night’s Celtics game against the Nets after attending his father’s funeral in Chicago earlier in the day.

Rivers’ father, Grady, died at age 76 last Sunday in Chicago. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, president Rich Gotham, director of basketball operations Danny Ainge and director of game operations and events Sean Sullivan were slated to attend the funeral.

“Obviously, (Doc Rivers) is a tremendous leader,” Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau said. “He was in Chicago and came back. He’s done a great job in practices preparing for the games...

“Obviously, it’s tough for him. But he felt like this is something that he wanted to do. We appreciate what he’s done for us. The big this for him is this is sort of an escape. I don’t know how he’s balanced. But it’s been phenomenal for us and our team. He’s obviously done a great job with this team getting this team together as quickly as he has.”

Thibodeau said Rivers told the coaching staff that he wasn’t certain if he would be able to attend the Nets game. Rivers and his staff talked in-depth about their preparation for the Nets game after defeating visiting Atlanta 106-83 on Friday night.

Rivers and Ainge took a charter plane from Chicago to the E. Rutherford-area after the funeral. Rivers arrived in the Celtics’ lockeroom at about 6:15 P.M., which is about an hour and 15 minutes before tip-off. The third-year Celtics coach asked and received a pass from pre-game media interviews and grabbed a Diet Coke after saying he was in need of caffeine.

Thibodeau spoke to the media and Comcast Sports New England in place of Rivers pre-game while Celtics assistant Armond Hill spoke to WEEI radio pre-game.

“I think his family felt comfortable with him coming back here,” said Thibodeau, about Doc Rivers.