Nets at Celtics
THE STORY: The return of Paul Pierce from injury and a major drop in the level of competition has helped the Boston Celtics get back on track. Boston, which opened the season with three consecutive losses, will shoot for its fourth straight victory when it hosts the reeling New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night. Pierce sat out the first three games of the season – all on the road – and his return has coincided with the Celtics' turnaround. Of course, it hasn't hurt that Boston's winning streak was built against lesser foes, beating Detroit at home and taking a home-and-home from winless Washington. Now the Celtics take on a Nets squad that has lost five straight since a season-opening win over the Wizards. New Jersey coach Avery Johnson is trying to keep up a bold front. “This is not a dire moment for us,” he said. “I am so encouraged. ... There is no surrender.”
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, YES, CSNE
ABOUT THE NETS (1-5): With Brook Lopez – last season’s leading scorer – sidelined by a broken foot, New Jersey simply lacks enough offensive options. Rookie G MarShon Brooks (13.7 ppg) is the team’s No. 2 scorer, but he showed his inconsistency by sandwiching a pair of 21-point efforts around a scoreless outing at Cleveland. Kris Humphries provides the only semblance of an inside game, averaging a double-double while boos continue to rain down on him in every arena. He may not play due to a shoulder injury.
ABOUT THE CELTICS: (3-3): Ageless Ray Allen, the league’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made, continues to light it up for Boston. He scored a team-high 27 points in Monday’s win over Washington, including 6 of 7 from 3-point range. The 36-year-old Allen is averaging 20.0 points and remains one of the league’s top shooters, connecting on 56.5 percent from the floor and 61.1 percent from beyond the arc. C Jermaine O’Neal sat out Monday’s game with hamstring tightness but said he will be ready to play Wednesday.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Celtics have won 15 of the past 17 meetings with the Nets, including seven of eight in Boston.
2. New Jersey ranks 29th in the league in scoring (85.3 ppg) and last in field goal percentage (38.5).