The Celtics ^[3] and Knicks ^[4] entered Tuesday’s game with the same goal: to win. But the two teams had different underlying objectives. For the Knicks, it was about getting a victory from their starting unit. For the Celtics, it was about developing the bench in what looks to be the Big Three’s final game of the preseason.

Despite losing, 108-103 (recap here ^[5]), Doc Rivers told the media after the game there were plenty of things for him to be pleased with, including the development of the second unit. Below are numbers and notes from Tuesday’s game:

• Managing Minutes: None of the Celtics starters played over 30 minutes. In fact they only combined for 130 minutes, compared to the Knicks starters with 157. Final counts for the starting five: Rajon Rondo ^[6] (27), Ray Allen ^[7] (30), Kevin Garnett ^[8] (24), Paul Pierce ^[9] (26), Kendrick Perkins ^[10] (23).
• More than the Second Unit: Rivers added Brian Scalabrine ^[11] and J.R. Giddens ^[12] to the mix with Eddie House ^[13], Marquis Daniels ^[14], and Rasheed Wallace ^[15] in the fourth quarter. Scalabrine and Giddens came into the game down 98-90 and were part of an 11-1 Celtics run.
• Getting Chippy: Preseason action got heated in the second quarter as the Celtics and Knicks exchanged flagrant fouls in a matter of a minute. First House was whistled for a flagrant against Jared Jeffries ^[16], which sent Jeffries to the ground. (House did help him to his feet.) Nate Robinson ^[17] followed up with a push that sent Rondo into the scorers table. Garnett was also called for a technical foul in the third quarter.
• Three’s Not Company: Last season the Celtics were hampered by the Magic’s long-range shooting during the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On Tuesday they faced the same challenge as the Knicks shot 13-for-36 (36.1%),  compared to the Celtics 6-for-24 (25.0%). The Knicks’ missed their fair amount of three-pointers, but at the end of the game they still put 39 points on the board from behind the arc.

The Celtics will take on the Cavaliers on the road on Wednesday night. Don’t expect to see Pierce, Allen, or Garnett on the court for the final game of the preseason. Catch their regular season debuts in Cleveland next Tuesday.