By Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff

Doc Rivers arrived back from his travels about an hour ago, around 5:30 p.m., after staying Friday night in Philadelphia and then heading Saturday morning to Milwaukee for the funeral of close friend Rick Majerus.

The Celtics played the 76ers in the first of a back-to-back, home-and-home series on Friday, losing in overtime.

"It was just a long day, tough day," Rivers said. "Now we have a game. That's how I look at it.

"Rick had a lot to do with why I'm here. I've been with Rick since fifth grade for the most part. I felt like I had to be there. It was important to me."

Rivers said he never seriously considered not coaching tonight against Philadelphia. As he put it, "If I really want to piss Rick off, don't coach the game."

He added, "Life is involved in what we do every day. You deal with life and then you deal with your job. I always try to separate it when you can. Sometimes you can't."