Celtics honor Kobe Bryant before Thursday night’s game vs. Warriors

A tribute to Kobe Bryant before the game between the Celtics and Golden State Warriors at TD Garden.The Celtics forwent their typical pregame introductions Thursday night, instead using the time to honor Kobe Bryant with a 24-second moment of silence and touching tribute video.

The game against the Golden State Warriors was the Celtics’ first back at TD Garden since Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed Sunday in a helicopter crash in California. The Celtics listed the names of the nine victims on the center-court video board before asking the sellout crowd to hold the 24-second moment of silence.

During that time, the stairs throughout the arena were lit up in purple and…