The Boston Celtics are back home for three games starting
with Wednesday's contest versus the Miami Heat at TD Garden.
The Atlantic Division-leading Celtics have lost four of their last six games
in Beantown and will also play host to the Nets and Magic. They are 13-8 at
home this season and put the brakes on a three-game losing streak with a 99-88
victory at Washington on Monday, as Kevin Garnett posted 19 points and six
rebounds to lead the way.
"I thought tonight defense was a priority," Garnett said. "I really felt like
for the first time in a long time that we put that priority."
Garnett passes Larry Bird for 24th on the NBA's all-time scoring list, while
Rajon Rondo recorded his 21st double-double of the season with 17 points and
12 assists for the Celtics, who outscored the Wizards by a 25-10 margin in the
final stanza to win for just the third time in their previous nine contests.
Ray Allen finished with 17 points and five rebounds.
All-Star forward Paul Pierce did not play in the fourth quarter because of an
injured left foot and finished with 12 points and eight boards. Pierce is
listed as questionable for Wednesday's game.
Miami has dropped two in a row and four of its last five games, including
Monday's 97-81 loss versus the Milwaukee Bucks in the finale of a home-and-
home series from south Florida.
All-Star Dwyane Wade finished with 23 points on 7-of-19 shooting, while
Michael Beasley returned from a two-game absence due to a hyperextended right
knee to post 16 points in the loss. Beasley has scored 20-plus points in six
of his last 13 games.
"We're just not making shots," Wade said. "We're getting good ones, we're just
not making them. Defensively, our rotations are not as crisp."
Udonis Haslem chipped in 12 points and 10 boards for the Heat, who shot 36.4
percent for the game and played without center Jermaine O'Neal because of back
spasms. O'Neal is questionable against the Celtics.
The Heat will commence a three-game road trip Wednesday against Boston,
Cleveland and Chicago, and are 11-12 away from this season. Miami will play
eight of its next nine games on the road.
Boston is aiming for its first season sweep of Miami since winning all four
matchups during the 2007-08 campaign. It has won the first two installments of
this year's series, including a 112-106 overtime victory in south Florida
early last month. Boston has won four straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings
with the Heat, who are winless in four straight trips to Beantown.
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