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Celtics host Hawks in rematch of first-round series

Nov 12, 2008 - 11:23 AM Atlanta (6-0) at Boston (7-1) 7:30 pm. EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics had all they could handle from the young Atlanta Hawks en route to their 17th NBA title last season.

Atlanta will look to give the Celtics fits again on Wednesday in a rematch of their highly entertaining first-round playoff series.

The Hawks reached the postseason for the first time in since 1999 and pushed the Celtics to seven games in the first-round before bowing out.

Atlanta is 6-0 for the first time since 1997-98 and may well see the Celtics in the postseason again. Al Horford recorded a career-best 27 points and 17 rebounds in a 113-108 win over Chicago on Tuesday.

The Hawks, who started 11-0 in '97-98, are one of two remaining unbeaten teams. The other is the Los Angeles Lakers, whom the Celtics beat in the NBA Finals.

Meanwhile, Boston has won five straight. Finals MVP Paul Pierce scored 22 of his 36 points in the fourth quarter as Boston rallied for a 94-87 win over Toronto on Monday.

Boston is relying on the stifling defense that carried it to title last season. The Celtics are holding opponents to the lowest field goal percentage in the league (38.2) and have yet to allow 100 points in a game.