Last night in the Sixers' first preseason game, Williams popped off the bench in what is becoming trademark fashion, scoring 27 points in a 98-92 victory over the Boston Celtics at the Mullins Center.

Williams and small forward Thaddeus Young, two of the Sixers' three youngest players, teamed for 48 points, seven more than their combined ages.

"Those guys were very good this preseason," Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said. "For their age, they play with a lot of maturity."

While Williams waited out the summer's negotiations, he kept off the pickup courts for fear of injury. The day he put pen to paper, for a reported $25 million over five seasons, he said his biggest relief was being able to play again. Williams flew home to Atlanta and immediately began honing his game.

"It feels good to spend the summer shooting, shooting, shooting and then come out here like that," Williams said.

His trajectory in becoming a valuable NBA commodity, while not meteoric, was certainly steep. In his rookie season, 2005-06, Williams averaged 1.9 points per game, removing his shooting shirt for only 30 of the Sixers' 82 games.

Last season, Williams' productivity blossomed: He averaged 11.5 points per game in the regular season, 12.0 in the playoffs.

Last night, Cheeks started the much-anticipated lineup of point guard Andre Miller, shooting guard Andre Iguodala, Young, power forward Elton Brand, and center Sam Dalembert.

Brand struggled early: He had four points at the half on 1-for-3 shooting and finished with 11 points.

"This is his first game actually playing with a different team," Cheeks said. "It's going to take him a minute."

The vaunted five struggled on offense, digging a 16-4 hole midway through the first quarter. Williams was the second Sixer off the bench, after shooting guard Willie Green.

Within 90 seconds of stepping onto the court, Williams splashed a three-pointer. Given the Sixers' woes - they were last in the NBA from beyond the arc last season - a consistent Williams jumper would be a welcome addition.

"The way Lou played tonight, the way Thad played tonight . . . they're bringing a spark," Brand said.

Notes. Sixers guard Kareem Rush did not play after spraining his left ankle in Monday's practice. . . . Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko, a Massachusetts alumnus, attended the game on UMass' home court. . . . Celtics coach Doc Rivers was absent last night, attending to "personal business" in Florida.