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Spurs-Celtics Preview

Mar 27, 2010 - 11:48 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

San Antonio (43-28) at Boston (47-25), 8:00 p.m. EDT

The Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs boast recent championships and 33-year-old future Hall of Fame power forwards, but each team has also struggled through injuries to maintain its status as a title contender.

Thanks to late-season surges, both may be accomplishing that goal.

The veteran clubs meet Sunday night in Boston, where the Atlantic Division champion Celtics have won five straight to move back among the Eastern Conference's top three.

After the Spurs won their fourth title in the Tim Duncan era in 2007, Boston ended a 22-year championship drought in 2008 in its first season after adding Kevin Garnett.

Both power forwards have topped 20,000 career points and 11,000 rebounds, but they've seen their numbers decline. After missing 10 games with a knee injury Dec. 30-Jan. 20, Garnett is hoping he has found a way to elevate his game heading into the playoffs.

He had 18 points and 13 rebounds for his second straight double-double, helping Boston beat Sacramento 94-86 on Friday night to lock up its third straight division title.

"I guess that's good," coach Doc Rivers said. "When you have a team with your goals so high, you don't really focus on it."

Combined with Atlanta's loss at Philadelphia on Friday, the Celtics (47-25) also took sole possession of third place in the East.

They still trail Cleveland and Orlando thanks largely to a 6-11 stretch Dec. 27-Jan. 31, but the Celtics have won six of seven and gone 15-7 since the All-Star break.

Paul Pierce has bounced back from injuries to average 24.0 points in his last six games, scoring a team-high 22 against the Kings, but point guard Rajon Rondo drew the bulk of the praise Friday for totaling a career-high 18 assists.

"He affects the game in so many different ways," Garnett said. "You want your point guard setting the tone every night. You want your point guard leading us."

San Antonio (43-28) has been forced to make do lately without starting point guard Tony Parker, who has missed 11 straight games with a broken hand and may not return until the playoffs.

The Spurs are 7-4 since the injury, with their losses coming to the West-leading Los Angeles Lakers and East powers Cleveland, Orlando and Atlanta.

They beat the NBA-leading Cavaliers 102-97 on Friday night, led by Manu Ginobili's 30 points.

"It means we're not that far from the best," Ginobili said. "Of course, it's just a game, and at home. But it makes us feel better."

Since entering the starting lineup in place of Parker, Ginobili has averaged 23.8 points - 8.0 above his season average.

"With Tony down, he's got the ball in his hands a little more, He's a playmaker," Duncan said. "If you can put the ball in his hands and let him get comfortable, these are the results you get."

The Spurs have won 11 of 15 but still find themselves near the bottom of the West. They are one loss away from tying their most in a season since drafting Duncan in 1997, going 53-29 in 1999-2000.

This will be Michael Finley's first time facing San Antonio since the Spurs waived him March 1. The Celtics signed Finley five days later. The veteran swingman and former All-Star, who had averaged 3.7 points in 25 games this season with San Antonio, has fared slightly better since joining Boston, averaging 5.8 points on 55.1 percent shooting.

The Celtics have won four of five against the Spurs since acquiring Garnett and Ray Allen in 2007, posting a 90-83 victory at San Antonio on Dec. 3. The Spurs won their last visit to Boston, 105-99 on Feb. 8, 2009.

That was one of six home losses for the Celtics last season. They have doubled that total in 2009-10, but are on their longest home win streak of the season.