Thanksgiving is Rivers' favorite holiday.

"It's everyone's favorite holiday, I think," Rivers said. "It's a family holiday so it's a good one. No gifts. No greed involved except your fork and knife. That's always pretty good."

Ray Allen so loved the chili beans his mother prepared for Thanksgiving, he made sure his wife learned to cook them. Before Allen met his wife, she didn't cook at all. Now she's so good in the kitchen, she filmed a pilot this fall for a cooking show. The Allens are trying to find a network to pick up the show.

"She's somewhere along the lines of Rachel Ray," Allen said.

Rajon Rondo was looking forward to eating Sara Lee Dutch apple pie.

"It's the only dish I can make," Rondo said. "I don't really make it, but I put it in the oven."

Nelson proud of old squad

Warriors coach Don Nelson hasn't played for the Celtics in 33 years and he has coached against them nearly every year since, but he still was thrilled when they won the NBA championship last June.

"I was very proud of them," Nelson said. "I wish I could have been here, but it wouldn't have looked good probably."

Nelson is in his third season of his second stint as coach of the Warriors. He said he no longer glances at his retired No. 19 in the Garden rafters, but he remains a Celtic at heart.

"You're always part of this franchise if you've played here," he said. "That's the beauty of being a Celtic. It'll never change. I'll ROOT for them when we're not playing them and I was one of their biggest fans."

No word on appeal

The Celtics haven't heard back from league headquarters about their appeal of two of the eight technical fouls called on Kendrick Perkins this season. They don't expect their appeal to be upheld.

"When you send film, they never really respond unless they're going to do something," Rivers said.

The Celtics thought Perkins was penalized for reacting to the antics of opposing players. Rivers said the Celtics sent film of the two technical fouls in question to the league more to prevent Perkins from getting whistled for future technicals than to get them overturned.

Perkins was called for eight technicals in Boston's first 15 games. If he picks up a 16th technical foul, he'll be suspended a game. He'll be suspended another game for every two technicals after that. Players also are fined $1,000 for each of their first five technicals, $1,500 for each of their next five, $2,000 for each of their next five, and $2,500 for each one thereafter.

Heinsohn's wife honored

A moment of silence was held before tipoff in memory of Helen J. (Weiss) Heinsohn, who died Monday after a six-year battle with cancer. Her funeral was yesterday. She was the wife of Celtics broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn, who affectionately called her "the redhead from Needham" during broadcasts.

Heinsohn was on hand for the moment of silence, but Donny Marshall filled in for him on last night's broadcast and also will take his place at tomorrow night's home game against Philadelphia.

Crawford suits up

Guard Jamal Crawford played in his second game last night since the Warriors acquired him from New York for forward Al Harrington last Friday.

"He fits right in," Rivers said. "I think he's one of the best on-the-ball dribblers, scorers in the league, and that's what they do. It just makes them more dangerous. It's going to take him some time to fit in and play, but not much time. He plays exactly the way they play. I think it's a really good move for them."

The Warriors needed help in the backcourt after Monta Ellis tore ligaments in his left ankle in a moped accident in August. Because riding a moped violated the terms of Ellis' contract, the Warriors suspended him without pay for the first 30 regular-season games. Ellis isn't expected back until January at the earliest. He averaged 20.2 points a game last season. Crawford averaged 19.6 points this season for New York.