HOUSTON -- Kevin Garnett, his eyes fixed low, walked over to Kevin McHale after the final buzzer and gave him a long hug.
Several other Celtics followed, embracing the Houston Rockets coach and expressing their condolences on the death of his daughter before McHale wiped away a tear and headed for the locker room.
It was a touching end to Houston's 101-89 victory Friday night, when McHale's current team beat his old one.
"I got to go over and give him a hug and talk for a little bit," said Boston swingman Courtney Lee, who played for McHale with the Rockets last season. "I saw the tears rolling down his face and it was definitely an emotional time."
McHale's 23-year-old daughter, Alexandra "Sasha" McHale, died Nov. 24 of complications from Lupus. McHale left the Rockets for nearly a month before returning last Saturday for a game against Dallas.
A Hall of Fame forward for the Celtics during his playing days, McHale selected Garnett out of high school with the fifth pick in the 1995 NBA draft when he was general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
