Boston is rolling, and it's not likely that Philly will do anything about it this time around. The two teams meet Friday night at the Garden for their third matchup this season.
When and Where
Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. ET (CSNE)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Records
Celtics (20-4, first place in Atlantic Division, first place in Eastern Conference)
Sixers (6-19, fourth place in Atlantic Division, 14th place in Eastern Conference)
Head to Head
In their first two meetings this season, the Celtics have found wins both big and small over the 76er. Boston beat Philly 105-74 on Nov. 3, and then eked out a 113-110 squeaker on Nov. 25. That makes the Celtics 2-0 this season in the head-to-head, bringing their record over the past two and a half seasons to 9-1. Apparently, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are too much for these Sixers to handle.
Skinny
Bringing in Allen Iverson hasn't changed a thing. The Sixers are headed for the bottom of the draft lottery, and it's nothing that a me-first shooting guard is going to change overnight. This team is in desperate need of some defense, both inside and out. That's been a problem since day one, and getting hit hard by the injury bug sure hasn't helped anything. This just isn't the Sixers' year.
Starting Lineups
Celtics
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Kendrick Perkins
76ers
Point guard: Allen Iverson
Shooting guard: Andre Iguodala
Small forward: Thaddeus Young
Power forward: Elton Brand
Center: Samuel Dalembert
Stat Sheet
Celtics
The Celtics are 13-3 against Eastern Conference opponents this season.
They are allowing 96.23 points per 100 possessions, lowest in the NBA.
Kendrick Perkins is shooting 64.9 percent from the floor, best in the NBA.
Ray Allen is shooting 93.0 percent from the free-throw line, second-best in the league.
Rajon Rondo leads the NBA with 61 steals.
Paul Pierce has averaged 23.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.4 assists in his career against the Sixers.
Kevin Garnett has 16.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game at home this season.
Sixers
The Sixers are 2-10 on the road.
Opponents are shooting 42.2 percent from 3-point range against them, the NBA's highest mark.
Andre Iguodala is tied for third in the NBA with 51 steals.
Samuel Dalembert is tied for fifth with 51 blocks.
Allen Iverson is averaging 15.6 points per game in five games with the Sixers this season.
Elton Brand is averaging 12.6 points and 7.1 rebounds. He has five double-doubles in 21 games this season.
Thaddeus Young is averaging 17.8 points per game on the road.
Black and Blue
Celtics
Glen Davis is recovering from a broken thumb. He returned to practice Thursday and hopes to play by the beginning of January.
Marquis Daniels had surgery on his left thumb and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Sixers
Allen Iverson is out with arthritis in his left knee and a bruised left shoulder.
Marreese Speights is recovering from a partially torn left MCL. He is questionable.
Louis Williams is out with a broken jaw.
This Date in Celtics History
In 1985, the Celtics set a franchise record with 46 assists in one game, as they beat the Mavericks 137-117 at the Boston Garden.
Overheard
"That's rehab. I killed my friend, like, 49-14. Uh oh, I'm almost back. If that had been like, 70-14, I'd be ready to play. I'm a real football-minded person. He likes to throw the ball every time, so all I do is play a zone defense. He throws it all over … and it's interception, touchdown!"
–Glen Davis, on ESPNBoston.com, detailing how he has been rehabbing his injured thumb by playing football video games
Press Box
Celtics
Glen Davis returned to practice.
Boston is Paul Pierce's city.
Rajon Rondo is an All-Star.
Sixers
LeBron James took Philly down on Wednesday.
The Sixers are without The Answer … and they're still searching for answers.
NBA
Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley carried the Heat past the Magic.
Rick Adelman rips the NBA's schedule.
Revisiting Kobe vs. MJ.
Outlook
Is there really any doubt? Any at all? This is the Celtics' game, just as it has been in nine of their last 10 meetings with Philadelphia. The Sixers are banged up, they're in disarray, they're struggling to find their identity defensively. The Celtics have no such problems. That's why they've won 11 straight games going into Friday night, and it's why they're in perfect position to make it 12 straight with a win Friday at the Garden.
