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Celtics look to avoid first three-game slide

Feb 22, 2008 - 2:17 PM Boston (41-11) at Phoenix (37-17) 10:30 pm EST

PHOENIX (Ticker) - The Boston Celtics still own the NBA's best record, but look to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season against the Phoenix Suns on Friday.

The Celtics have turned in their two worst defensive performances of the season in the first two contests on their five-game road trip - losing 124-118 at Denver on Tuesday and falling 119-117 at Golden State on Wednesday thanks to Baron Davis' buzzer-beater.

Prior to those setbacks, Boston had been 16-0 against Western Conference teams.

"You've just got to learn from it and understand what we're doing wrong and clean it up," said Boston's Paul Pierce, who is averaging 26.8 points in his past five games.

The Suns began the Shaquille O'Neal era on Wednesday with a 130-124 home loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. Phoenix made 51.6 percent of its shots, but allowed the Lakers to shoot 56.5 percent. O'Neal, who hadn't played since January 21 due to a hip injury, had 15 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.

"(O'Neal) did seem to get stronger as the game went on, which is incredible," Suns' coach Mike D'Antoni. "I did really think he'd run out of steam sometime in the second half, and he really didn't."

The teams meet for the second and final time March 26 in Boston.