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Celtics open five-game road swing at Bucks

Mar 15, 2008 - 1:51 PM Boston (51-13) at Milwaukee (23-42) 8:30 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - The Boston Celtics aim to bounce back from a disappointing loss when they pay a visit to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday.

Boston enters after getting crushed by the Utah Jazz, 110-92, at home on Friday, snapping its season-best 10-game winning streak.

"I could tell right off the bat, energy-wise, we weren't our normal selves," Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said. "Against a good team like Utah, you've got to get everything oiled up and ready to go from the jump."

The loss was bitter-sweet for the Celtics, who lost All-Star guard Ray Allen to a heel injury, but still managed was able to capture the Atlantic Division in the process.

Saturday's matchup is the beginning of a tough stretch as Boston visits San Antonio, Houston and Dallas before wrapping up at New Orleans on the finale of this five-game swing.

Michael Redd and Charlie Villanueva each netted 26 points but it wasn't enough to keep Milwaukee from suffering its fourth straight loss with Wednesday's 114-110 setback to Utah.

On December 14, All-Star Paul Pierce poured in 32 points in the first meeting to lead a balanced attack in Boston's 104-82 win over the Bucks, who got just seven points from Redd.