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Well-rested Spurs set to face Celtics

Feb 8, 2009 - 8:22 AM San Antonio (33-15) at Boston (42-10) 1:00 p.m. EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- Shaking off rust won't be the only issue the San Antonio Spurs will have to deal with on Sunday.

The Spurs will play for the first time since Tuesday when they face the defending champion Boston Celtics.

As if the four-day layoff were not enough, San Antonio stars Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Michael Finley all were rested on Tuesday in a 104-96 loss at Denver that snapped a four-game winning streak.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made the decision to rest his core players after watching the team grind out a 110-105 overtime victory at Golden State on Monday.

Ginobili is the only one of the four who is banged-up, as he suffered a hip contusion in the win over the Warriors, though all four are expected to play against the Celtics.

The contest will be the third stop on San Antonio's annual nine-game "rodeo road trip."

Boston is returning home after dispatching the New York Knicks, 110-100, on Friday. Paul Pierce led the way with 26 points and Ray Allen added 22 as the Celtics bounced back from a rare loss.

Boston has won 13 of its last 14 games and is 24-3 at home.