Paul Pierce went down in the third quarter but made a dramatic return to lead Boston to a 98-88 victory in Game 1.

Boston fans held their breath when Paul Pierce went down holding his right knee in the third quarter of Game 1. As their leader, main offensive weapon and the heart and soul of the entire franchise, losing Pierce would have been a devastating blow. It was Game 1 of the finals against the seemingly unstoppable Lakers. Could their other two stars step up and carry the team to victory? Could their bench sustain them in the clutch, knowing that Kobe had yet to turn it up and start raining shots?

As Pierce was carried off the court, and wheeled back to the locker room, these were questions that silenced basketball fans at the Garden and on every couch across the country. Too much was on the line. And after 10 years with Boston, through the highs and the lowest of lows, there was no way he was going to the miss the rest of his first Finals game ever.

“Once I felt I could put weight on it, I was like, I had to get back out there to help my ballclub,” Pierce said. “That was all that was going through my mind, just being a part of it. I just wanted to get back out there.”

As all eyes were recovering from the shock and settling back into the game an eruption emerged from the stands. Before cameras could focus in on the cause everyone knew what it meant. The Truth had returned. After a quick LA timeout and a few strained footsteps Pierce went off, finishing the game with 22 points, 19 of which came in the second half. He was 7-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range.

It was legendary performance by Pierce and an epic start to the Finals.

LA kept the game close, exchanging leads throughout the game. Their top scorers Pau Gasol and Kobe combined for 39 points in the loss. Game 2 is Sunday.