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Kings-Celtics Preview

Mar 25, 2010 - 9:59 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Sacramento (24-48) at Boston (46-25), 7:30 p.m. EDT

Winning the Atlantic Division was essentially a foregone conclusion for the Boston Celtics the last two seasons, which they finished with cushions of more than 20 games over their closest competitors.

It hasn't been as easy during an injury-filled 2009-10 campaign, but the Celtics can lock up another division crown as they continue a six-game homestand Friday night against the sputtering Sacramento Kings.

Boston ended up 25 games ahead of second-place Toronto on its way to the 2008 NBA title, and an injury to star forward Kevin Garnett last season didn't stop the Celtics from beating out Philadelphia by 21 games in the division.

There was some unexpected intrigue injected into this season's race, however, after Boston's 9-13 stretch going into the All-Star break allowed the Raptors to close within 4 1/2 games.

The Celtics (46-25) have responded by going 14-7 since the break to open a 10 1/2-game edge, and one more win or Toronto loss would secure first place.

Boston may be more concerned with beating out Atlanta for third in the Eastern Conference. The teams are tied, but the Celtics are feeling better about themselves after winning five of their last six.

"I'm just really focused on getting to the ... middle of April and being at our best," coach Doc Rivers said.

Rivers' club certainly looked sharp in winning its fourth straight at home, 113-99 over Denver on Wednesday. Such a run would not have been notable while the Celtics were going 70-12 at the TD Garden over the last two seasons, but it is their longest home winning streak of 2009-10 and comes after a 7-8 stretch in the previous 15 at Boston.

"We have been able to get the job done on the road, but this is where we eat. This is where we set our table," forward Paul Pierce said. "Hopefully, we can just start playing well in this building and gather some momentum going into the playoffs."

Pierce has been the Celtics' driving force lately. Slowed by knee, foot and thumb injuries earlier in the season, he has scored more than 25 points four times in his last five games, totaling 27 against the Nuggets.

"Right now I'm as healthy as I've been all year and this is our time to start playing well," Pierce said.

Garnett added 20 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday for his third double-double in 31 games since returning from a knee problem.

The Kings (24-48) have considerably less confidence on the heels of a 93-79 loss Wednesday at NBA-worst New Jersey, which coach Paul Westphal called "by miles and miles our worst game of the year in every way."

Playing their third game without injured rookie of the year candidate Tyreke Evans, the Kings shot 35.8 percent while putting up their lowest point total of the season. Evans is out after suffering a mild concussion and facial injuries in a loss to Milwaukee last Friday.

"(The Nets) are facing the worst record of all-time in NBA history and this is a team you just don't want to lose to," forward Carl Landry said. "It will be a game I will remember forever, the rest of my life. I'll try to take it and use it as motivation."

Evans, who leads the Kings and all NBA rookies with 20.3 points per game, will miss the next two contests and be re-evaluated Monday.

Sacramento has lost eight of 11 overall and five straight to the Celtics.