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Celtics look to stay perfect in Atlantic vs. Raptors

Jan 23, 2008 - 2:33 PM Toronto (22-19) at Boston (33-6) 7:30 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- One of the biggest reasons for the Boston Celtics' inflated record this season has been their complete domination on the Atlantic Division.

The Celtics will look to remain perfect within the division when they host the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday.

The best team in the league record-wise, Boston is 10-0 against the Atlantic and is tops in the Eastern Conference with an 18-3 mark at home.

Winners of three in a row, the Celtics have asserted their dominance over Atlantic foes Philadelphia and the New York Knicks in the past two games, winning by a combined margin of 43 points.

Point guard Rajon Rondo returned from a nagging back injury against the Knicks and went 5-of-9 for 14 points and four steals in 28 minutes.

Rondo's presence helped hold the offense together when captain Paul Pierce was ejected in the third quarter along with New York guard Quentin Richardson for a verbal confrontation.

The Raptors have fallen victim to Boston three times already this season, with two December losses coming by a combined 41 points.

Toronto gave the Celtics a challenge in the second game of the season, forcing overtime before Ray Allen clinched the win with a 3-pointer.

Allen, Kevin Garnett and Pierce have taken turns leading Boston in scoring in the three contests, but defense has been the key.

The Celtics have held the Raptors to 39 percent (95-of-242) shooting in the three games, and Garnett has held Chris Bosh to less than 20 points in two starts.

Toronto will enter Wednesday's game in second place in the Atlantic, 12 games shy of Boston. The Raptors have won five of their past seven games but fell, 99-95, at Philadelphia on Saturday.