The Celtics endured a tough loss on the road Tuesday night 86-84 to a red-hot Milwaukee Bucks team, but they return home the following night hoping to get back on track. The C's play host Wednesday to the Memphis Grizzlies, the second young, energetic team they've faced in as many nights. Like the Bucks, the Grizzlies are a hungry, playoff-hopeful team fighting for a postseason seed — they've got every reason to give it their all at the Garden on Wednesday night.
When and Where
Wednesday, March 10, 7:30 p.m. ET (CSNE)
TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
Records
Celtics (40-22, first place in Atlantic Division, third place in Eastern Conference)
Grizzlies (33-31, third place in Southwest Division, ninth place in Western Conference)
Head to Head
This is the second of two meetings this season between the Celtics and Grizzlies. The first came in Memphis on Dec. 14, when six Celtics scored 13-plus points and Paul Pierce led the way with 19, as a balanced Boston attack sank the Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum 110-105. They'll look to find that same balance on the tail end of a back-to-back at home.
Skinny
It's been four years since the Grizzlies made the playoffs in the Western Conference, and the franchise has still never caught a glimpse of the second round. This year's team is young and raw, but it still might be the best Grizzlies team ever. It's got size up front in Marc Gasol, dynamic wing scorers in O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay, and a walking double-double machine at power forward in Zach Randolph. The Griz have just enough talent to turn some heads in the West this season.
Starting Lineups
Celtics
Point guard: Rajon Rondo
Shooting guard: Ray Allen
Small forward: Paul Pierce
Power forward: Kevin Garnett
Center: Kendrick Perkins
Grizzlies
Point guard: Mike Conley
Shooting guard: O.J. Mayo
Small forward: Rudy Gay
Power forward: Zach Randolph
Center: Marc Gasol
Stat Sheet
Celtics
After Tuesday's 86-84 loss in Milwaukee, the Celtics are now 8-5 in games decided by three points or less.
They have 1,463 assists, fourth-most in the NBA behind the Jazz, Mavericks and Suns.
Kendrick Perkins is averaging 10.8 points per game, a career-high.
Kevin Garnett had 10 rebounds Tuesday night at Milwaukee. He has reached double figures in three of his last seven games.
Rajon Rondo has 21 turnovers in five games in March.
Paul Pierce has 21.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game against the Grizzlies in his career.
Ray Allen averages 21.1 points against them.
Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are 16-25 this season against winning teams.
They have made only 267 3's, third-fewest in the NBA. Only the Bulls and Pistons have sunk fewer from long range.
O.J. Mayo leads the NBA in minutes played with 2,481.
Marc Gasol is shooting 58.2 percent from the field, fourth-best in the NBA.
Zach Randolph leads the league with 267 offensive rebounds.
Mike Conley is averaging 17.5 points, 5.8 assists and 2.3 steals in his last four games.
Rudy Gay is shooting 31.8 percent from three-point range this season, a career low.
Black and Blue
Celtics
For the first time this season, the Celtics are completely healthy. Knock on wood.
Grizzlies
Zach Randolph missed Monday's game against New Jersey with tightness in his lower back. He is questionable to return Wednesday.
Ronnie Brewer is out with a partially torn right hamstring. He may return to the Grizzlies as early as this weekend.
Steven Hunter has a sore left knee. He is out indefinitely.
This Date in Celtics History
In 1986, the Celtics lose to the Dallas Mavericks for the first time in franchise history. Larry Bird scores 50 points and the Celtics run up a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter, but the Mavericks storm back and polish off a comeback win at home, 116-115.
Overheard
"We came to play hard and we did that — we just didn’t play well. We didn’t make shots. The only thing I told my guys I was disappointed in was that we went through a game with Ray Allen and he only got three shots. They defended him well, but we have to give him more shots."
–Doc Rivers, in Wednesday's Boston Herald, on the Celtics' 86-84 loss to the Bucks on Tuesday night
Press Box
Celtics
The Bucks were too much to handle.
Ray Allen felt right at home in Milwaukee.
The C's need their edge back.
Grizzlies
Zach Randolph battles a bad back.
Hasheem Thabeet is doing well in the D-League.
Ronnie Brewer battles back.
NBA
Kobe Bryant ended the Lakers' losing streak.
Deron Williams and Derrick Rose are special players.
The Clippers are done with Mike Dunleavy.
Outlook
The Celtics will come home to finish a back-to-back and will be hard-pressed to find the energy to close things out. Games like this are never easy, but every win counts with the Celtics in the playoff hunt, and the C's will have to give everything they've got. Stopping Zach Randolph and Rudy Gay is always a struggle, and Doc Rivers' squad will need speed, strength and athleticism to get the job done. These Grizzlies can't be overlooked.
