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Celtics host Raptors seeking fifth straight win

Dec 7, 2007 - 2:32 PM Toronto (10-9) at Boston (15-2) 7:30 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Toronto Raptors finished 2006-07 as the surprise winners of the Atlantic Division. The Raptors will be hard-pressed to repeat this season with Kevin Garnett in Boston.

Garnett and the Atlantic Division-leading Boston Celtics go for their fifth straight win Friday when they host the Raptors.

After getting off to a slow start last season, Toronto clearly was the division's dominant team throughout the campaign. The Raptors finished with a 47-35 record and the first division title in franchise history.

But the balance of power changed in the division when Boston acquired Garnett and fellow All-Star Ray Allen via a pair of offseason trades.

The preseason favorite to win the Atlantic and the Eastern Conference, Boston has not disappointed, winning 15 of its first 17 games en route to a comfortable six-game division lead over the second-place Raptors.

Garnett scored 22 points and Paul Pierce added 19 and a season-high 12 assists Wednesday as the Celtics extended rallied for a 113-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Raptors suffered their second setback in three games on Wednesday, dropping a 136-123 decision to the Phoenix Suns.

Toronto was without forwards Chris Bosh (groin) and Andrea Bargnani (knee), who missed their fifth and third games, respectively.