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Celtics looks to stay perfect vs. shorthanded Nets

Nov 14, 2007 - 2:04 PM New Jersey (4-3) at Boston (6-0) 7:30 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics aim to stay unbeaten when they host the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.

Pierce scored 31 points and Garnett posted his sixth straight double-double as he scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a 101-86 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday.

The Celtics faced their toughest challenge of the season against the Nets on Saturday, but had no problems.

Boston's "Big Three" of Pierce, Garnett and Ray Allen combined for 73 points as the Celtics cruised to a 112-101 win at New Jersey. Garnett scored 18 points and pulled down 14 rebounds in the first meeting, while Pierce scored 28 and Allen added 27.

Meanwhile, New Jersey's Richard Jefferson scored 28 points in the first meeting, and is averaging 26.9 points and 5.6 assists.

However, the Nets lost more than a game on Saturday as Vince Carter suffered a sprained ankle and is out indefinitely. Carter, who is averaging 17.0 points and 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists, suffered the injury in the third quarter when he landed on someone's foot after a dunk.

The shorthanded Nets will be facing an uphill battle against a Celtics team that has started out 6-0 for the first time since 1987-88, is winning by an average of more than 16 points.

Jefferson scored 32 points on Monday, but New Jersey dropped its second straight, 84-82, to New Orleans.

On the bright side, the Nets have won three in a row here.