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Celtics cruise into Charlotte for first meeting with Bobcats

Nov 24, 2007 - 2:13 PM Boston (10-1) at Charlotte (6-6) 7:00 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Each year since entering the NBA for the 2004-05 season, the Charlotte Bobcats have won one more game against the Boston Celtics than the previous season.

Those numbers came before Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined the Celtics, who face Charlotte on Saturday in the first of four meetings between the Eastern Conference teams.

Boston, which sports the league's best record, is coming off a 107-94 victory at home against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Kendrick Perkins scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace Boston.

Garnett had his 10th double-double in 11 games for Boston, finishing with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Paul Pierce had 20 points and nine rebounds, while Allen netted 18 points for the Celtics. Rajon Rondo had 10 assists for Boston.

A slow start doomed the Bobcats in a 105-92 loss at Orlando on Friday. Charlotte trailed, 27-16, after the first quarter and was never able to recover.

Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace left the game at the end of the first quarter with a calf strain. His run of four straight games with 25 or more points ended, finishing with just four points in 12 minutes.