Celtics at Wizards
THE STORY: The Boston Celtics haven’t won on the road this season. They hope the fourth attempt works out differently when they visit the winless Washington Wizards on Sunday. The Celtics started the season with three straight road losses before recording an 11-point home over the Detroit Pistons on Friday. The contest marked the season debut of forward Paul Pierce, who had 12 points in 23 minutes. “It felt good to finally get out there with my teammates,” Pierce said afterward. “I was expecting to be me and I don’t settle for anything less.” Veteran Kevin Garnett will become the 23rd player in NBA history to play in 1,200 or more games. The Celtics and Wizards are playing a home-and-home with the back end slated for Monday in Boston. Washington hasn’t scored more than 84 points in any of its three losses and was routed 102-81 by the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. The Wizards are shooting just 38.6 percent from the field.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet New England (Boston), Comcast SportsNet (Washington), NBATV
ABOUT THE CELTICS (1-3): Boston had more fire with the ultra-competitive Pierce on the court against the Pistons. Pierce missed the first four games with a bruised right heel and his presence helped the offense find its groove and his court awareness opened up higher-percentage shots for other players. Pierce’s conditioning will be tested by the back-to-back games against the Wizards but he’s always scored well against Washington with a 22 points-per-game average in 46 career games.
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (0-3): Washington coach Flip Saunders experienced an embarrassing snafu on Friday when it was discovered during the first quarter that guard Roger Mason was ineligible to play. Saunders didn’t have Mason included on the roster and the Wizards were given a technical foul shortly after Mason entered the game against the Bucks. “The league sends out a list and we circle the guys that are active,” Saunders explained afterward. “For some reason Roger wasn’t on it and I didn’t notice it. I take responsibility.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams split last season’s four meetings with each squad winning twice on its home court.
2. Washington guard Jordan Crawford scored 24 points off the bench against Milwaukee two nights after having just one point as a starter against Atlanta.
3. Boston forward Chris Wilcox (shoulder) has missed two straight games but hopes to return Sunday.