Final
Raptors-Celtics Preview
Jan 1, 2010 - 10:02 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior WriterToronto (16-17) at Boston (23-8), 7:30 p.m. EDT
The Boston Celtics were relatively healthy during their longest losing streak last season. They've had a much easier time pinpointing the cause behind their current skid.
With Kevin Garnett's status uncertain and Paul Pierce expected to miss another game, the Celtics look to avoid losing four in a row for the first time in nearly a year as they host the surging Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.
Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen were all healthy when Boston dropped four straight last Jan. 4-9, a skid it snapped with a 115-109 victory over Toronto on Jan. 11.
Now Allen is the only one of the three who is not nursing an injury, as the Celtics (23-8) try to win for the first time since an 86-77 victory at Orlando on Dec. 25.
Coach Doc Rivers told the Celtics' official Web site that Pierce will miss his fifth straight game with a right knee injury. Garnett's status is uncertain after he sat out a 116-98 loss at Phoenix on Wednesday night due to a hyperextended right knee.
Boston had been defeated by no more than 11 points in any of its previous seven losses.
"When you take your best two scorers off the floor ... and your best defender off the floor, you may not win that game," Rivers said.
Garnett was hurt in a 92-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday night, then the injury was aggravated after he got kicked in a 103-99 defeat to Golden State the following evening. Rivers said he didn't like the way Garnett "looked at all" against the Warriors.
Garnett is averaging 15.0 points and 7.6 rebounds, while Pierce leads Boston with 18.2 points per game.
After what turned out to be an awful four-game road trip, the Celtics hope playing at the TD Garden will help them get back on track. Boston has won five of six at home, including a 116-103 victory over Toronto (16-17) on Nov. 27 in the teams' first meeting.
The Celtics have won five straight and nine of 10 against the Raptors.
Toronto, though, has won a season-high five in a row and had a franchise-record nine victories in December, beating Charlotte 107-103 on Wednesday night.
Chris Bosh had 33 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Raptors. His 9,381 points are 39 shy of tying Vince Carter's franchise record.
Bosh would likely have an easier time maneuvering in the paint if Garnett sits out. The Raptors, though, might be without one of their own top big men, with Hedo Turkoglu nursing a bruised right knee.
Turkoglu, listed as day to day, was hurt in the first half against the Bobcats and did not return after the break. He's averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 40.3 percent from 3-point range.
Turkoglu and Andrea Bargnani give Toronto two strong shooting big men. Bargnani helped make up for Turkoglu's absence by matching a season high with 28 points.
It was the second time in three games that Bargnani has scored more than 20. He was held to seven points on 2-of-6 shooting in this season's first matchup with the Celtics.
- NBA
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TORONTO 27 21 19 29 96
BOSTON 29 29 20 25 103 FINAL
HIGH SCORERS: TOR - CHRIS BOSH 25, ANDREA BARGNANI 21,
JARRETT JACK 14
BOS - RAY ALLEN 23, RASHEED WALLACE 16,
GLEN DAVIS 15
Jan 2 10:01 PM - NBA
TORONTO 67
BOSTON 78 END, 3RD QTR
Jan 2 9:29 PM - NBA
HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
TORONTO 27 21 48
BOSTON 29 29 58 HALFTIME
HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME
TOR - CHRIS BOSH 13, ANDREA BARGNANI 11, HEDO
TURKOGLU 8
BOS - RASHEED WALLACE 12, RAY ALLEN 10, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 9
Jan 2 8:45 PM - NBA
TORONTO 27
BOSTON 29 END, 1ST QTR
Jan 2 8:14 PM
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