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Celtics aim to avoid fifth straight loss

Jan 15, 2007 - 3:03 PM Boston (12-24) at Atlanta (11-23) 2:00 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics will try to reverse their losing ways against one of the NBA's worst teams.

The sliding Celtics look to avoid their fifth straight loss when they visit the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

The third-worst team in the Eastern Conference, Boston has been riddled with injuries throughout the season and has dropped 11 of its last 13 games.

The Celtics only scored 32 second-half points, including 11 in the third quarter, of an 81-72 loss to the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.

Forward Gerald Green led Boston with 24 points while Ryan Gomes added 17.

Paul Pierce, who leads the Celtics with 26.6 points per game, missed his 12th straight contest with a foot injury. Boston also played without Wally Szczerbiak, who missed his third straight contest with swollen ankles.

The Hawks snapped a two-game losing streak with a 99-93 victory over the Pistons on Friday.

Joe Johnson scored 34 points to pace Atlanta, which owns the second-worst record in the conference and third-lowest mark in the entire league.