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Celtics aim for fifth straight win vs. lowly Bobcats

Dec 16, 2006 - 5:11 PM Boston (9-13) at Charlotte (6-16) 7:00 pm EST

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) - The Boston Celtics are playing their best basketball of the season. On Friday, they will take on one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference.

Riding a season-high four-game winning streak, the Celtics will hit the road to face the lowly Bobcats on Saturday.

Not long ago, coach Doc Rivers was rumored to be fired if Boston did not turn it around in its below-average conference. After sweeping a critical three-game road swing against division rivals New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia, he has the Celtics playing their best basketball of the season.

On Friday, Paul Pierce scored 38 points, Tony Allen added 30 and Al Jefferson 28 as Boston extended their winning streak to a season-high four games with a 119-114 victory over Denver.

The Celtics have not won four in a row since April 12-17, 2005 and have not won five or more consecutive contests since a seven-game run March 11-19, 2005.

Despite their dismal 6-16 record, the Bobcats defeated one of the best teams in the conference on Thursday. Sean May scored a career-high 32 points and rookie Adam Morrison added 22 and seven rebounds off the bench as Charlotte posted a 99-89 triumph over Orlando.

The Bobcats have lost seven of their nine all-time meetings with Boston but have won the last two matchups in Charlotte.