Paul was talking to Paul Pierce when he was interrupted by Rondo, and Celtics assistant coaches had to step in.

``I was talking to them guys,'' the Hornets All-Star said. ``Somebody came up to me. I don't know.

``The game was a good game, though. We fought hard. Whatever happened afterward is that. Me and Paul at the end of the game were just talking. I know Paul real well. I know Ray Allen really well. I know his family. Rasheed (Wallace), I know him and his kids. I'm good friends with all those guys.''

Celtics PR man Jeff Twiss later announced that Rondo would not be talking about all the talking. Word is that word didn't come from Rivers, but he had to be pleased the trash talk had been taken out.

Rondo finished with six points, 10 assists and four turnovers, while Paul had 22 points, eight assists and two turnovers.

Rivers didn't want to act as ringside judge.

``Well, I'm not even going to get into that whole Rondo/Paul comparison, because for me it's more about our team,'' Rivers said. ``Rondo's on our team; Chris Paul's on New Orleans, and that's all. I don't coach him. He's a great player, great kid, Chris Paul. And that's it for me.

``But, you know, squaring off . . . featherweights. I mean, there's nothing wrong with having a competition. The competitions are great. Then that's it. I mean, jeesh. They're supposed to go at each other. Paul (Pierce) is supposed to go at whoever's guarding him, and Kevin (Garnett) is supposed to go at whoever's guarding him. That's Basketball. It's called a competition. And then it stops. So, anyway, that's all I'm saying on those two guys.''

According to New Orleans coach Byron Scott, ``Words were said, I guess, with Rondo and Chris. I don't know what was said, but I guess Chris didn't like it obviously.'' Paul wasn't letting on much afterward, though one Hornets official pointed to comments that appeared in Saturday's Herald:

Kendrick Perkins offered up some cannon fodder for tomorrow's game against the Hornets. The Celtics center told the media that, according to Rondo, the only reason Chris Paul has so many assists is that the ball is in his hands all the time.'' But Paul wasn't taking any more bait last night.

``I try not to get into all of that stuff,'' he said. ``I understand in the situation I'm in every night somebody's going to try to come at me. I'm going to get his best shot night in and night out. I know they'd already won the game. What else? You know? I was surprised, but, hey, we lost.

``I'm a huge advocate for the Boston Celtics , you know, how they defend and how they play hard and play together. It's something that we want to get to. Boston has established themselves as a team that's not going to beat themselves. You've got to go out and beat them. I think Rondo's a lucky guy to be able to play with a guy like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and KG . . . Rasheed Wallace.''

Asked what Rondo had told him, Paul said, ``I don't know. I couldn't hear him too well. It was loud in there. I don't know. Like I said, he's a lucky guy to have them guys to be playing with. He's a great point guard. He's won an NBA championship, something I hope to achieve. He has a ring; that's what I'm trying to get to.''

When it was mentioned that repeatedly calling Rondo lucky might come across as a shot, Paul said, ``No, I mean that seriously. Like I said, they're a great team. I watch them play on (NBA) League Pass night in and night out, because the way they communicate defensively . . . KG, I mean, I could go on and on about him and the intensity he brings every night. Like I said, they're where we're trying to get to.''

Even Rondo had to concede, ``It's what the team needs. What he does for his team is what they need. What I do for my team is what we need. It's kind of two different styles. He has to do a lot more than what I have to do. My job is easy playing with these guys.''

- sbulpett@bostonherald.com