The Celtics’ Leon Powe roars after a 3-point play.

AP / David J. Phillip

BOSTON – Leon Powe.

Remember him?

He’s one of Boston’s backup forwards, in case you forgot. He hadn’t seen much playing time lately – just a combined 34 minutes in Boston’s previous nine games entering last night’s action.

Powe wasn’t even inserted into the game in three of those contests.

But when Boston starting center Kendrick Perkins picked up two fouls in the first quarter last night, it was clear that Boston coach Doc Rivers needed to play backup center P.J. Brown and Powe to keep Perkins out of further foul trouble, and to give Kevin Garnett a rest.

So Powe, who had only eight points in Boston’s previous six games, was thrown into the fire of Game Two of the NBA Finals.

It was a game that Boston felt like it had to win with the next three to be held in Los Angeles.

The Celtics needed Powe to play well, and he played better than his teammates ever imagined that he would.

Powe was a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the court. He slammed home dunk after dunk. He played excellent defense. He recorded 21 points and grabbed two rebounds in only 14:39 of action, and he had 18,624 screaming fans at the TD Banknorth Garden chanting his name throughout the fourth quarter.

Providing an enormous spark off of the bench, Powe was one reason the Celtics defeated the Lakers, 108-102.

“He’s been great,” Rivers said. “Tonight he was terrific.”

“Coach called my number,” Powe said. “He put me in the game and he called a couple post-ups for me, and I knew I had to deliver. I was just trying to help my team win. My teammates did a real good job of finding me in good spots in good areas where I could finish easier and don't have to make too many moves.”

Perkins wasn’t surprised that Powe had a huge night.

“I see him do that every day at practice,” Perkins said. “He scores on KG. He scores on myself. Leon can work out, man. He’s just a little leashed up right now. When he gets unleashed he’s alright.

“He was a monster. He can dunk everything. He’s a good finisher. He’s got post moves and everything.”

Powe only played 44 seconds in the first quarter, but he made an immediate impact in the second session. By being aggressive, he was able to draw four fouls. He knocked down six of seven free throws and scored eight points in the quarter as Boston erased a two-point deficit and led, 54-42, at halftime.

“We made a concerted effort to get him the ball in the post in that one stretch in the first quarter, and when he came in the second quarter he responded. So it was great,” Rivers said. “We actually had to go to Leon to establish a post game. So I was happy that Leon could do it.”

Powe didn’t enter the third quarter until there was 2:02 left, but that was more than enough time to make his mark.

He ended the third quarter with back-to-back dunks that brought the crowd to its collective feet and gave Boston its biggest lead of the game, 83-61.

“Powe really played hard, took advantage of the opportunities he had down there and converted pretty well,” Los Angeles forward Pau Gasol said. “So obviously he did good. He runs the floor, goes to the boards, does all the little things, and that was enough for him to have a 21-point game in an NBA Final and make an impact on the game.”

Powe made it hard for Rivers to take him out, so Rivers left him in the game to start the fourth quarter.

Powe didn’t disappoint.

He scored Boston’s first two points of the quarter on a driving layup and followed that up with two free throws. Powe would later score again on a layup and knock down two more free throws before Rivers finally took him out with 5:56 remaining.

“It was pretty open,” Powe said of the Lakers’ defense. “You know, they weren't really trying to front me or deny me anything. If they wanted to post me up, they could just go straight in like they did. It was my job to make something happen. But like I said, my teammates, they delivered the ball real well to me and in the right spots, and fortunately a couple shots went down for me.”

Powe made 9 of his 13 shots. He left the game to a standing ovation.

“I was just happy to get in the game and just happy to be a part of this whole experience, because it's been a long journey for me,” Powe said. “And just to be able to get in the game and contribute, whether it's on the defensive end or the offensive end, it don't matter to me, and just go out there and try to play hard, 110 percent every time.”