BOSTON(AP) Kendrick Perkins had 18 points with nine rebounds and Gabe Pruitt scored 11 with 12 boards to lead the Boston Celtics to a 83-66 exhibition victory over the New Jersey Nets on Sunday.

Kevin Garnett scored eight points with eight rebounds while playing sparingly in the first and third quarters in the NBA champions' penultimate tuneup before they begin their title defense. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen scored six points apiece in 20 and 16 minutes, respectively.

Point guard Rajon Rondo sat out the game after injuring his right ankle in Friday night's game against the New York Knicks. Coach Doc Rivers said Rondo was fine but sitting out as a precaution.

Ryan Anderson scored 20 for the Nets, who lost to the Celtics 111-108 on Thursday without any of the Big Three playing.

This one wasn't close.

Perkins, the fifth starter, played 23 minutes and helped the Celtics open a 21-10 lead with 3:22 left in the first quarter. They made it 38-24 midway through the second and took a 20-point lead halfway though the third.

The new Boston Garden was half-filled - likely for the last time this year - with the crowd cheering loudest when the scoreboard showed fans in Red Sox gear to the strains of Fenway anthem "Sweet Caroline.'' The Celtics will wrap up the exhibition season on Tuesday night against the Knicks in New York, then have a week off before raising the 2007-08 championship banner on Oct. 28 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A spot in the rafters is already reserved, with the empty hooks ready to hang the team's 17th NBA title alongside the 22 names and numbers of retired players.