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Sixers look to stop history again as Celtics go for 19th straight

Dec 23, 2008 - 11:14 AM Philadelphia (12-15) at Boston (26-2), 7:30pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The stars aligned perfectly. With the hottest team in the NBA threatening to rewrite the history books, the Philadelphia 76ers get the chance to play spoiler ... again.

The reigning champion Boston Celtics take a franchise record-tying 18-game winning streak into Tuesday's showdown with the 76ers.

It was the Sixers who put an end to the Celtics' last 18-game streak on March 28, 1982 - charging into the Boston Garden and coming away with a 116-98 triumph.

Those high-powered Sixers went on to defeat the Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference finals, a fate unlikely to repeat itself this time around. Philadelphia has struggled under hefty expectations and has lost high-priced forward Elton Brand to a shoulder injury.

What Philly can do, however, is try to pull off an upset and deal Boston its first loss since November 14.

It won't be easy. The Celtics seem to be getting stronger. They have posted their two biggest scoring outputs over the last two games - blowout victories over the Bulls and Knicks in which they've combined for 250 points. Emerging star Rajon Rondo scored 26 points on 12-of-14 shooting and added six boards and five assists in Sunday's 124-105 triumph over New York.

The 76ers' three-game winning streak was snapped on Saturday, as T.J. Ford drilled a game-winning jumper with 3.8 seconds on the clock to lift the Indiana Pacers to a 95-94 victory.