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Celtics look to keep rolling along without Garnett

Feb 12, 2008 - 2:59 PM Boston (39-9) at Indiana (21-30) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) - Just when the Indiana Pacers found a way to win again, here comes the Boston Celtics.

The Pacers will put their longest winning streak since December 19 - two games - on the line when they host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

Luckily for the Pacers, All-Star Kevin Garnett is expected to miss his eighth straight game with an abdominal strain - an injury that is expected to keep him off the floor until after the All-Star break. The Celtics have gone 5-2 in Garnett's absence, including a 98-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday that ran the team's record to 16-0 against Western Conference opponents.

Paul Pierce scored 35 points in the win, while rookie Glen "Big Baby" Davis did an admirable Garnett impression on the defensive end, locking up All-Star Tim Duncan just enough so that Boston did not have to resort to double teams.

Indiana's two wins come on the heels of a seven-game losing streak, during which they failed to reach 100 points four times. Offensive efficiency has become the Pacers staple under first-year coach Jim O'Brien, as the club ranks second in the Eastern Conference in scoring at 103.1 points per game.

They earned an impressive win on Saturday, 101-93, over the Portland Trail Blazers. Danny Granger scored 29 points to lead the way and Jeff Foster pulled down 14 rebounds to give Indiana its first consecutive wins since a three-game spurt from December 15-19.

Points could be hard to come by on Tuesday, however, as Boston leads the NBA in scoring defense, allowing 89 points per game. The Celtics have allowed 100 or more points just six times in 48 games.

Boston won the first meeting of the season, 101-86, on November 13. Pierce led the way with 31 points.