• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Celtics aim to bounce back vs. Blazers

Mar 9, 2012 - 4:15 PM (Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics hope to put an embarrassing loss behind them when they host the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at TD Garden.

The Celtics had a five-game winning streak come to an end with a lopsided 103-71 loss in Philadelphia on Wednesday. The sluggish Celtics trailed 33-17 after the first quarter and lost for the first time since the All-Star break.

Paul Pierce had 16 points, Brandon Bass scored 12 and both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined for just 10 points for Boston. Rajon Rondo scored five points and handed out eight assists.

"We just didn't have it, honestly," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "I thought Philly played terrific. I though they played hard. They had great energy. We were really sloppy and honestly we missed a ton of open shots."

Boston had won 13 of the previous 16 meetings with the Sixers and sit two games behind them in the Atlantic Division. The Celtics, who have won four in a row at home and are 15-8 in Beantown, will begin a grueling eight-game trek Sunday against the Lakers, Clippers, Warriors, Kings, Nuggets, Hawks, Bucks and 76ers.

Portland will resume its season-long, seven-game road trip tonight and opened the trek with Wednesday's 106-94 loss at Minnesota.

Raymond Felton and LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 and 22 points, respectively, for the Trail Blazers, who have dropped four of their last five games and fell to 5-13 away from Rip City this season.

"We let those guys have a big start again," said Portland head coach Nate McMillan. "We really have to establish ourselves defensively. Offensively, I think we are settling for a lot of jump shots."

Gerald Wallace had 13 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in defeat. Portland tied all-time franchise lows in free throws made (three) and free throws attempted (four) against the Timberwolves.

The Blazers are winless in their previous three road games and sit last in the Northwest Division. They will also visit the Wizards, Pacers, Knicks, Bulls and Thunder on the current road swing.

Portland was swept by Boston in last season's home-and-home series and has lost four straight and 11 of the past 12 meetings between the teams. The Blazers are winless in their last seven trips to Beantown.