The Celtics wanted a rowdy crowd for Game 1 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden. They got it.

Hours before tip-off, people from all over flocked to the streets of Boston, Celtics banners hung from prominent city buildings and loud “Let’s Go Celtics” chants were heard.

All of the above are evidence that Celtics fans were chomping at the bit to finally cheer on the Green and White, with visions of the team hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy in a week or so.

Fans packed the Garden Thursday for the first time in two two weeks since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana, a team they’d eventually sweep on their championship pursuit.

“This is the best Boston Celtics of my lifetime,” diehard fan KJ Green told the Herald in his Celtics swag outside the Garden, “and they’ve got four more wins to solidify themselves in NBA history. Better than ’08.”

Green is known for his ‘Green Runs Deep’ X account which boasts more than 24,000 followers. He compared the energy on Causeway Street to Christmas morning, but unlike Dec. 25, the gift doesn’t come until the Celtics win the four games it takes to conquer the NBA title.

The passionate fan has spearheaded watch parties at Big Night Live, right outside of the Garden, and will continue to hold the festivities alongside the city- and Celtics-sponsored watch parties next week for Games 3 and 4, when the series moves to Dallas.

Tickets to the watch party inside the Garden for Game 4 sold out within hours of going live on Ticketmaster Thursday morning.

“If you know Boston, you know the ticket market, getting into these games is very expensive for the working man,” Green said. “I organize these watch parties for $10, $15 and $20 to get in and watch these games with a bunch of diehard fans. They’ve been a screaming success.”

From Wednesday morning to Thursday morning, the number of tickets sold for Game 1 more than doubled on StubHub, with prices starting around $570 for Game 1 and $600 for Game 2, set for Sunday.

Stubhub officials called the prices “relatively affordable for a bucket list event like the NBA Finals.”

Youngster Ryley Perez, wearing a Jayson Tatum jersey, took in the scenes on Causeway Street with her mother Anais Perez Thursday afternoon.

“He’s just my favorite player,” Ryley said of Tatum with a smile.

The Bill Russell statue outside of City Hall was decked out with flowers, a vendor sold “Kyrie Sucks” shirts outside of Old South House, in reference to the return of Mavericks star Kyrie Irving, a former Celtic, while large “Different Here” banners hung outside of City Hall and the State House.

Despite the heavy presence of Celtic pride, fans from Dallas also took to the streets before Game 1 tipped off.

Dallas resident Ronnie Cherry, a Mavericks season ticket holder of 20 years, flew to Boston for the special occasion with his daughter Ashlyn. This is his second Finals, having seen Dallas defeat the Heat in LeBron James’ first season in Miami in 2011.

The anticipated “rowdy” TD Garden crowd didn’t phase Cherry.

“Until now, I couldn’t even tell there was a Finals here, man,” he said. “We’ve been all over Boston, and we just didn’t see people out.”

Cherry had just met Medford resident Maurice Ely Jr., who said he finds the Mavericks more likable than the hometown team. He pointed to Dallas legends Dirk Nowitzki and Derek Harper.

“This is a dream, a dream come true,” Ely said of attending the Finals. “It’s going to be a good series. Teams who win Game 1 go on to win the series. The storyline is going to be Kyrie’s return to Boston. He’s going to hear it tonight.”

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Reading resident Chris Carter called the Finals “stressful” but she believes the Celtics can get it done in 5. Her son Scottie Carter has been a team ball boy since the 2008-09 season, a year after Boston claimed Banner 17.

“The whole town of Reading is watching him on TV,” Carter said. “It’s like everyone was looking for Scott and they became Celtics fans. It’s going to be great not just for our family but for the entire town.”

Celtics fans were jacked up ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)