CHARLOTTE — After bathing in the satisfaction generated from their triple-overtime win over the Denver Nuggets Sunday, the Celtics had to get back to reality Monday against the Bobcats.

Doc Rivers was faced with some interesting decisions after the 118-114 victory, a game in which Paul Pierce equaled his career high by playing 54 minutes, Kevin Garnett, age 36, logged 47 minutes, and Jason Terry played 43.