LOS ANGELES — Twenty-seven seconds into Game1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday, the Lakers' Ron Artest and the Celtics' Paul Pierce became entangled, wrestling each other to the floor and getting double technical fouls.

Artest, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher picked up two fouls in the first quarter, which featured 18 fouls and 20 free throws. It took 35 minutes to play the first quarter, 33 to play the second and 35 to play both the third and fourth.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson would prefer the tone of Game 2 on Sunday at the Staples Center be different.

"We really want our players to settle into this game," Jackson said after practice Saturday.

The teams had two days off to reflect on the Lakers' opening victory. For the Lakers, the downtime was helpful in that it allowed center Andrew Bynum to rest his right knee, which has torn cartilage. He had about 21/2 ounces of fluid drained Monday, but the swelling soon returned.

Bynum, who played 28 minutes in Game 1, got treatment Saturday and didn't practice but said he's "good enough to play."

Bryant was able to rest his right knee and Lamar Odom his sprained right knee and sore left shoulder.

But it's possible the Lakers also lost something with the days off.

"You lose a little bit of that continuity, of that nervous energy that you build up to get into a series," Jackson said. "So that'll be something we have to be prepared for."

Garnett good to go: Celtics forward Kevin Garnett wasn't miffed at misconstrued remarks made by the Lakers' Pau Gasol about Garnett's effectiveness.

While explaining Friday how Garnett's game has changed, Gasol said the Celtics star has "lost some explosiveness. … He's more of a jump shooter now."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Garnett is "as healthy as he's been all year. And he plans on trying to prove that to a lot of people (Sunday)."

Injury updates: Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has felt tightness in his rear throughout the playoffs and has tried stretching during games to loosen his muscles. He said Saturday he's fine but "won't know until contact, really."… Celtics guard Marquis Daniels (concussion) went through a live practice Saturday and could be ready to play Sunday. "I can't guarantee, but there's a good chance," Rivers said.

Tribune Newspapers writer Baxter Holmes contributed.

baturner@tribune.com