Players ran under the basket and threw balls to distract Ray Allen and Eddie House in their free-throw shooting contest. Glen Davis rolled on the floor in amazement after an acrobatic dunk by J.R. Giddens.

Practice time was fun time for the Celtics, a tired team in need of a break.

"Sometimes in the year you've got to remember why you play basketball," coach Doc Rivers said. "Guys were laughing and joking. I thought that was good for them."

After four games in five days and six in nine - all without injured Kevin Garnett - the Celtics held a light workout Saturday in the midst of a three-day stretch without a game. They should be a lot fresher Monday night at home against the Mavericks than they were Thursday night in a 96-83 loss to the Bulls.

That was the Celtics' sixth loss at home this season, already matching their number of losses for each of the last two seasons.

"After losses, sometimes guys get mad at each other a little bit," center Kendrick Perkins said. "So sometimes you need just a little laughter in the gym. I think that helped us."

AP