Boston Celtics (40-14) at Golden State Warriors (26-29), 10:30 p.m.
(Sports Network) – The Boston Celtics have won more games than any other NBA franchise since acquiring Kevin Garnett before the 2007-08 season.
There is one city, however, where the Celtics have been unable to win — Oakland. Boston hopes to rectify that tonight when it opens up a four-game road trip against the Golden State Warriors.
The Celtics, who have lost six straight overall at ORACLE Arena, entered the All-Star break percentage points above Miami for the top spot in the Eastern Conference after a 94-80 win over New Jersey last Wednesday in Beantown. After scoring just one point and missing on all 10 field-goal attempts in a win over Miami on Feb. 13, Paul Pierce scored a game-high 31 points in that one as Boston used a strong fourth quarter to dispatch the Nets.
“He’s back, because he’s a great player and those guys just don’t have a lot of back-to-back bad games,” coach Doc Rivers said of Pierce.
Garnett added 14 points and 10 rebounds while Ray Allen scored 12 for the Celtics, who ended a three-game homestand at 2-1. Rajon Rondo dished out eight assists and added seven points for Boston, which has won all three meetings against New Jersey this season.
The Warriors, meanwhile, also entered the break on a winning note, downing Utah, 107-100, last Wednesday in Salt Lake City when Monta Ellis scored 35 points on 16-of-25 shooting, and Golden State handed the slumping Jazz another loss.
Ellis also had seven assists for the Warriors, who improved to 26-29 at the break, matching their entire win total from last season. Dorell Wright and Reggie Williams chipped in 22 and 15 points, respectively, in the club’s third straight victory.
“This is a big step for us,” coach Keith Smart said. “Knowing that this team was desperate, they had to try and get a win and our guys fought.”
The Warriors and C’s have split their home-and-home season series in each of the past three seasons.
02/22 10:36:53 ET
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