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Celtics look to bury Nets again

Jan 17, 2009 - 11:25 AM Boston (32-9) at New Jersey (19-21) 1:00 p.m. EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics have had trouble on the road of late, while the New Jersey Nets have not been putting up much of a fight.

The Celtics will look to move their winning streak to four games with another dominating win over the Nets on Saturday.

Boston has lost six of its last eight games on the road but is coming off its best game in weeks, a 118-86 dismantling of New Jersey on Wednesday. Paul Pierce scored 22 points and Kevin Garnett added 20 for the Celtics, who did not send any of their starters out for the fourth quarter.

The win pushed Boston's record against Atlantic Division foes to 9-1.

While the Celtics got a nice break after the game and a chance to rest up for Saturday's contest, the Nets were forced to squeeze in a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

Devin Harris scored 23 points but Vince Carter suffered through his second straight poor shooting performance as New Jersey fell, 105-99. The Nets were outrebounded, 45-32, in the contest and allowed the Blazers to shoot 51 percent (39-of-76) from the field.

Carter has scored 18 points on 5-of-24 shooting in the past two games, including 1-of-10 against Boston.