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Boston's "Big Three" face tough test against New Jersey

Nov 10, 2007 - 2:29 PM Boston (4-0) at New Jersey (4-1) 7:30 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce have Boston Celtics fans reminiscing about the good old days.

The new "Big Three" will look to help the Celtics to their fifth straight win when they host the Atlantic Division rival New Jersey Nets on Saturday.

On Friday, Allen was in foul trouble but it mattered little as Garnett shot 12-of-16 and scored 27 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to notch his fourth double-double in a 106-83 win over Atlanta.

Pierce added 23 points for the Celtics, who are off to their best start since winning six straight to open the 1987-88 season. Those were the prime years of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish.

Behind Garnett, Allen and Pierce, Boston is shooting a league-leading 54.2 percent from the floor.

But New Jersey figures to be the toughest test for the revamped Celtics' squad. The Nets boast their own trio of superstars in Richard Jefferson, Jason Kidd and Vince Carter.

Jefferson is off to a great start, averaging 25.6 points and 5.8 rebounds while Kidd has been a threat to record a triple-double every night. The 13-year veteran is averaging 8.0 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.4 rebounds.

New Jersey, which is off to its best start in five seasons, got 25 points and a pair of game-clinching free throws from Jefferson with 24 seconds left to post a 87-85 win over Washington on Thursday.

The Nets have won five of the last seven meetings, but have dropped two straight here.