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Celtics head west to face Blazers

Jan 27, 2011 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - The top team in the Eastern Conference kicks off a four- game western road swing in Portland Thursday night, when the Boston Celtics visit the Blazers at the Rose Garden.

The Celtics, who lead the East with a 34-10 mark, won for the sixth time in seven games on Tuesday when Paul Pierce scored all of his 24 points in the first half, and Boston jumped all over Cleveland on the way to an easy 112-95 win, sending the Cavaliers to a historic setback.

Ray Allen added 18 points in the win, Rajon Rondo scored 11 with 10 assists, and Boston built a 22-point lead at halftime on the way to its sixth straight win at the Garden. Kendrick Perkins, playing for the first time since suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Game 6 of the NBA Finals last season, scored seven points and added six rebounds in 16 minutes of action.

"It felt good to be on the floor," said Perkins. "I can do more. I was a little winded and a little off-key. I can get better."

The Celtics were able to rest Pierce, who tweaked his ankle, Allen and Kevin Garnett for the entire fourth quarter as they bounced back from a bad loss in Washington on Saturday to hand the Cavs a franchise record with their 22nd straight road setback.

Pierce is listed as questionable for tonight but said he should be fine.

"I just tweaked it a little bit," said Pierce. "I don't think it should be anything serious."

Boston, which will also visit Phoenix, the LA Lakers and Sacramento on its trek, is 12-7 away from Beantown this season.

The Blazers, meanwhile, lost for the first time in six games and fell to 2-1 on a five-game homestand Monday when Tyreke Evans posted 26 points, six rebounds and six assists as Sacramento pulled away late to defeat Portland, 96-81.

Wesley Matthews notched 21 points and Andre Miller had 18 and five assists as the Trail Blazers fell to 16-6 at the Rose Garden this season. Nicolas Batum chipped in 16 points and nine boards.

Portland will finish its current residency against the West's best team, San Antonio, on Feb. 1.

The Celtics have won three straight and 10 of 11 against the Blazers, including a 99-95 win in Boston back on Dec. 1.