BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett watched from the bench in a suit when the defending NBA champions opened the playoffs against the Chicago Bulls.

Garnett joined the team for its pregame huddle on Saturday and was yelling at teammates and smacking their backsides to get them fired up.

He has missed most of the last two months with a strained tendon in his right knee. Coach Doc Rivers said this week Garnett is unlikely to be better before the playoffs end. But the Bulls had doubted whether such an intense competitor would really miss the game.