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Celtics welcome Nets to Beantown

Wed 14th, January 2009

(Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics seem to be back on track following a four-game slide and will welcome the Atlantic Division-rival New Jersey Nets to TD Banknorth Garden Wednesday night.

Boston has won two straight since the skid and just swept the Toronto Raptors in a home-and-home series. It posted a 115-109 overtime triumph versus the Raptors on Monday in Beantown, as Paul Pierce posted nine of his season-best 39 points in overtime to complete a season sweep of the Raptors for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

Pierce, who went 13-of-26 from the field, also had nine rebounds on a bum right knee, while Kevin Garnett registered 20 points and 12 rebounds in a winning cause. Boston will try to improve its 19-2 home record Wednesday.

New Jersey has won three of its last four games and handed the Oklahoma City Thunder a 103-99 overtime loss on Monday.

Brook Lopez netted a career-high 31 points and posted the sixth double-double of his rookie campaign by adding 13 rebounds for the Nets, who got 17 points and eight assists from Devin Harris. Harris returned from a two-game absence due to a strained right hamstring.

Vince Carter scored 21 points for the Nets, who played for the first time without forward Yi Jianlian. Yi is expected to miss three-to-four weeks of action with a broken right pinkie finger suffered in Friday's loss to Milwaukee. Ryan Anderson got the start for Yi and netted six points and nine rebounds.

The Nets are 10-7 away from the Meadowlands this season.

Boston went 4-0 against New Jersey last season and has won five straight and six of the last seven meetings. The Nets are winless in their last two trips to Beantown.