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Celtics look to continue streak vs. 76ers

Jan 18, 2008 - 2:42 PM Philadelphia (15-24) at Boston (31-6) 7:30 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) - Ray Allen and company are ready to start streaking again - in a positive direction.

The Boston Celtics will look for their second straight win when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

The Celtics own the best record in the NBA, but suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season last weekend, dropping a home-and-home series to the Washington Wizards. The losses to the Wizards made them losers of three of four overall.

Offense was the problem during the slide, as Boston failed to top 86 points in the four-game stretch.

But the Celtics, who have had three separate win streaks this season of eight or more games, broke out on Wednesday, beating the Northwest Division-leading Portland Trail Blazers, 100-90. Allen scored 35 points on 12-of-20 shooting in the victory - his highest point total since joining Boston this summer.

The Sixers snapped a seven-game slide on Tuesday at Houston, picking up a 111-107 victory as Andre Miller scored 26 points and dished out six assists. Miller is averaging 16.2 points and 6.3 assists amidst rumors that he is on the trading block.

Philadelphia dropped a 113-103 decision against the Celtics on December 5. Kevin Garnett keyed the victory with 22 points and seven rebounds and Paul Pierce dished out 12 assists