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Celtics look to push winning streak to five

Nov 23, 2008 - 8:08 AM Boston (12-2) at Toronto (6-6) 12:30 p.m. EST

TORONTO (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics are picking up where they left off last season.

The defending champions will be looking for their fifth straight win when they face the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.

Boston has cruised through its last four games, winning by an average of 12.3 points. Kevin Garnett led the way at Minnesota on Friday, returning to the city where he spent the first 12 seasons on his career and dropping 17 points on the Timberwolves in a 95-78 win.

The Celtics got strong play from their bench in the win, with Tony Allen and Leon Powe combining for 24 points to lead the second unit.

Boston is once again winning with defense, leading the NBA in points allowed at 89 per game.

Powe and Garnett may get a break, as Raptors forward Jermaine O'Neal could miss the contest with a strained left knee. The oft-injured former star suffered the injury in Friday's loss to the New Jersey Nets and is listed as day-to-day.

Boston will still have to contend with Andrea Bargnani and Chris Bosh. Bargnani, the No. 1 pick in 2006, has scored 54 points over the last two games while Bosh went off for 42 on Friday and is averaging 26.9 and 10.8 rebounds.