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Surging Celtics aim for eighth straight win

Nov 29, 2008 - 11:23 AM Boston (15-2) at Charlotte (5-10) 7:00 p.m. EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- There is no let up for the defending champs.

The Boston Celtics will be searching for their eighth straight win when they face the Charlotte Bobcats on Saturday.

The Celtics won by outscoring the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors in the last week, but they got back to their defensive roots with a 102-78 demolition of the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.

Ray Allen scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting to lead the way against the Sixers but it was the continued emergence of Rajon Rondo that stood out.

Quickly becoming one of the elite point guards in the NBA, Rondo followed up a 22-point, eight-rebound, seven-assist performance against the Warriors by dishing out 12 assists against Philadelphia and showing an ability to get into the lane at will.

Rondo and Allen have helped make up for some uncharacteristic play by Paul Pierce, who is averaging 11.8 points over the past five games.

The Bobcats are coming off a 115-108 overtime win against the Indiana Pacers. Raymond Felton led the way with 31 points while Emeka Okafor chipped in 14 points and 20 rebounds.

Charlotte has followed up a four-game losing streak with wins in two of its last three games.