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Celtics hit the road again to face Knicks

Jan 4, 2009 - 2:57 PM Boston (29-5) at New York (12-19) 6:00 p.m. EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The road has not been kind to the Boston Celtics of late, but a date with the New York Knicks could change their fate.

The Celtics will look to take advantage of another Eastern Conference opponent when they visit the Knicks on Sunday.

Boston dropped three of four on a Western Conference road trip over the holidays, snapping a franchise-best 19-game winning streak in the process. The disappointing swing dropped their road record to 11-4, though the Celtics have not lost to an Eastern opponent home or away since November 1.

The defending champions bounced back from their trip with a one-game stop at home, taking apart the Washington Wizards, 108-83, on Friday. Paul Pierce was nearly perfect in the contest, going 9-of-10 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the free throw line to finish with 26 points.

Rajon Rondo collected 10 points and 14 assists as six players scored in double figures.

The Knicks are the highest scoring team in the East, averaging a robust 104.2 points per game. They could have trouble scoring on Sunday, however, as Boston ranks second in the NBA in scoring defense, yielding 90.6 per contest.

New York is coming off a 105-103 loss against the Indiana Pacers on Friday and have dropped seven of their last eight games.

Boston has won each of the first two meetings between the teams this season, including a 124-105 demolition on December 21. Rondo scored 26 points and Pierce added 17 in the win.