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Celtics seek revenge vs. Lakers

Feb 5, 2009 - 11:17 AM LA Lakers (39-9) at Boston (41-9) 8:00 p.m. EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics may have gotten the better of the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals, but it's the Lakers who own the upper hand in the regular season.

The Celtics will be looking for some revenge when they face Los Angeles on Thursday.

Boston was riding high on a franchise-best 19-game winning streak and an NBA-best 27-2 record when it rolled into the Staples Center on Christmas Day. The Lakers brought the Celtics down to earth with a 92-83 victory.

Los Angeles forced 17 turnovers and held Boston to 5-of-22 from beyond the arc in that win.

The setback sent the Celtics into a tailspin that saw them go 2-7 over their next nine games.

Boston has rebounded, winning 12 straight including a 100-99 win at Philadelphia on Tuesday as Ray Allen drained a 3-pointer with a half-second remaining.

The Lakers have won four straight and eight of nine and beat the Toronto Raptors, 115-107, on Wednesday despite missing center Andrew Bynum, who could be out three months with a knee injury.

Kobe Bryant has made everyone forget about Bynum, setting a Madison Square Garden record with 61 points on 19-of-31 shooting before collecting 36 points, nine rebounds and five assists against the Raptors.

Bryant did not perform quite as well the last time he played here, however, managing 22 points on 7-of-22 shooting as Los Angeles dropped Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 131-92.