BOSTON - It was a series that had it all — a record number of overtime games, countless scintillating individual performances and no shortage of villains on either side.

Sunday's games

• Heat at Hawks (Tied 3-3)
• Mavericks at Nuggets (Tied 0-0)

Saturday's game

• Celtics 109, Bulls 99 (Celtics win 4-3)

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FOXSports.com analysis

• Playoff results, schedule
• 2009 NBA Playoff Central
• 5 questions for Bulls-Celtics, Game 7
• Rosen: Hawks can't handle D-Wade
• Top 10 moments of Bulls-Celtics series
• Hill: Bulls-Celtics best series ever?
• Rosen: Game 6 was extra special
• Hill: Oh no! Refs rear their heads
• Hill: Stars with something to prove

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Video

• Heat-Hawks Game 6 highlights

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Photos

• Saturday's action | Thursday

Allen responded with 51 points in Game 6, but it wasn't enough as the Celtics couldn't close out the series and went back to Boston after a triple-overtime loss.

"It was unbelievable entertainment," said a smiling Celtics boss Danny Ainge after Saturday night's win.

Ainge wasn't even allowed to watch the first game after suffering a heart attack just prior to the start of the series, but he saw enough to rank it as one of the best he's ever seen — as a player, coach, television analyst or general manager.

"There were just so many big shots and big plays," he said. "I'm not sure I've ever seen anything like it."

We've been spoiled.

There's no way that Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic can or will provide the same level of excitement that this matchup gave NBA fans.

"Oh, my God," Celtics second-year forward Glen Davis said. "You don't understand. Overtime after overtime after overtime. It gets boring after a while."

No one was snoozing staying up late to watch these games.

Fans were treated to an NBA Finals type of atmosphere — and there are still three rounds left before a champion is crowned.

This is the same avenue Boston took a year ago to start things off — needing seven games to put a young Atlanta Hawks club away.

"Last year was the exact same way," Davis said.

Hmm. With one somewhat critical difference.

Garnett.

It's highly unlikely that the Celtics will hang another banner and repeat — not unless Garnett makes a miraculous recovery.

And that sounds highly improbable.

"I'm not counting on K.G. for the rest of the playoffs," Ainge said. "He's not healthy to play and I'm not planning on it. I've said it's up to him and I don't think anyone knows except for him for sure."

With Garnett, the last seven games never would have happened. Chicago might have put up a fight, but the series wouldn't have played out as it did.

On Saturday night, Boston finally got production from a bench that was essentially useless for much of the series.

House, who entered the game averaging four points in the series, scored 16 and made all four of his attempts from beyond the arc. Brian Scalabrine, who looks like he belongs in the local YMCA, scored eight first-half points. Even Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore made contributions.

The Celtics may not take another step in this postseason without Garnett, but they certainly didn't shortchange anyone.

Including themselves.