• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Jeffersno, Celtics aim for fifth win in six games

Mar 9, 2007 - 4:47 PM Seattle (25-36) at Boston (17-43) 7:30 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) - The Boston Celtics and Seattle SuperSonics, a pair of teams out of contention for a postseason berth, will be trying to start new winning streaks when they meet Friday.

After enduring a franchise-record 18-game losing streak and a series of injuries, Boston has been playing respectable basketball of late. However, they took a step back with Wednesday's 111-80 home setback to the Houston Rockets.

The loss ended a four-game winning streak for the Celtics. But it did not slow down Al Jefferson, the Eastern Conference Player of the Week who had 20 points and 13 rebounds.

Boaton has the worst record in the Eastern Conference and is 10 1/2 games out of the final playoff spot.

The SuperSonics had a three-game run snapped by Wednesday's 92-89 setback at Philadelphia. All-Star Ray Allen scored 29 points but missed a potential tying 3-pointer in the waning seconds.

Seattle's four-game road trip ends Sunday in Toronto. The Sonics are just 7-23 on the road, the third-worst mark in the NBA.

Seattle is tied for 13th in the West, 4 1/2 games out of the final playoff berth.

The Sonics will be looking for their fourth straight win over the Celtics, which would be their longest stretch of success in the series since rolling off six in a row from March 14, 1995-January 9, 1998.