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Hurtin' Celtics seek 50th win of season against Grizzlies

Mar 13, 2009 - 6:15 AM By Mike Lipka Stats Writer

Memphis (16-47) at Boston (49-16), 7:30 p.m.

BOSTON (Ticker) -- With four losses in their last seven games, the banged-up Boston Celtics are quickly fading from contention for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

If they lose at home to the moribund Memphis Grizzlies, their confidence could become an even bigger issue.

Although still without Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and a trio of reserves, the Celtics should have a good chance to avoid a third straight loss Friday night against the Grizzlies, who haven't beaten a winning team on the road all season.

The Celtics (49-16) had won 15 of 17 when Garnett suffered a knee injury at Utah on February 19, but it's been a struggle for the defending champions since then - especially with other injuries popping up to further deplete the team.

Garnett has missed nine full games, while Rondo and Glen Davis - Garnett's replacement in the starting lineup - sprained ankles last weekend, and reserves Brian Scalabrine and Tony Allen are also out. None are expected to return Friday.

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have been forced to carry the load, with Leon Powe and Stephon Marbury in the starting lineup and Boston's bench considerably shortened for the team's 107-99 loss at Miami on Wednesday night. Powe had 23 points and 13 rebounds, but Marbury was held scoreless on 0-of-6 shooting.

The Heat shot 50.0 percent, again highlighting the effect Garnett's absence has had on Boston's usually tough defense. In the nine games without the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Celtics opponents are shooting 45.7 percent and averaging 97.7 points - up from 42.5 percent and 92.0 points before he went down.

Garnett is likely to miss at least another week, while the status of the team's other injured players aren't as clear.

"There is no excuse," Pierce said Wednesday. "We had our opportunities. We had the lead at halftime and had a bad quarter in the third quarter. We dug ourselves a hole. We have to understand that we're a defensive team first and that's how we win games."

Boston also struggled at the offensive end in Sunday's 86-79 loss to Orlando, and the Celtics need to get things turned around quickly if they hope to catch Cleveland for the top seed in the East.

With one win in its last 11 games, Memphis (16-47) should provide Boston with the perfect opportunity to get back on track.

The Grizzlies' 104-79 loss at Minnesota on Wednesday night was especially woeful considering the Timberwolves were playing without their two leading scorers, Al Jefferson and Randy Foye. Memphis was outscored 35-14 in the first quarter and outrebounded 48-28 overall.

"The game was humiliating and embarrassing from start to finish," Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins said. "We did not want to play and I don't want to hear anything about how they were short-handed, or we had a mentality that they were short-handed. I don't care who we would have played tonight."

The lopsided loss dropped Memphis to 4-26 on the road. The four victories were against Golden State, Oklahoma City, Washington and the Los Angeles Clippers - teams with a combined 70-188.

This is the first meeting between the Celtics and Grizzlies since Boston won 119-89 on March 8, 2008, at FedEx Forum. They'll meet again in Memphis on March 21.