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Celtics look to bounce back vs. Nets

Jan 11, 2008 - 1:51 PM Boston (29-4) at New Jersey (18-17) 7:30 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - Fresh off their fourth loss of the season, the Boston Celtics should have some more help as they attempt to begin another winning streak.

The Celtics expect to have Ray Allen and Glen Davis back in the lineup when they visit the New Jersey Nets on Friday.

Allen missed Wednesday's 95-83 loss to the lowly Charlotte Bobcats with a pinched nerve in his neck, while Davis was sidelined with a sore right knee.

Boston clearly missed Allen's presence on the perimeter, where his replacement - Tony Allen - managed just six points on 1-of-5 shooting.

The loss snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Celtics, who have had three separate streaks of at least eight victories this season. They shot just 42 percent (30-of-72) in Wednesday's rare setback, including 4-of-20 from 3-point range.

Boston will be taking on a Nets team that has won six of their last seven games behind the play of perennial All-Star Jason Kidd, who had a string of three straight games with a triple-double snapped in Wednesday's 99-88 victory over Seattle.

The point guard sat out the entire fourth quarter against the SuperSonics with New Jersey comfortably ahead. Kidd is averaging 11.6 points, 8.7 rebounds and 10.7 assists per game this season, and is just six assists shy of passing Isiah Thomas for fifth place on the all-time list.

The Celtics have blown out New Jersey twice this season, getting 28 points from Paul Pierce and 14 rebounds from Kevin Garnett in a 112-101 victory here on November 10 and winning 91-69 in Boston on November 14.

The Nets have won three straight at home, but the Celtics own the NBA's best road record at 13-2.