Celtics (26-10) at Nets (3-34)
Game time: 7:30pm, Izod Center, East Rutherford, N.J. TV - CSN, YES. Radio - WEEI-AM (850).
Team Leaders
Scoring
Bos: Pierce - 18.2 Nets: Brook Lopez - 18.6
Rebounding
Bos: Perkins - 8.2 Nets: Lopez - 9.6
Assists
Bos: Rondo - 9.6 Nets: Devin Harris - 5.8
Who'll go off: Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. I look for the vets to have big games, especially following Monday's tough loss to Atlanta.
Who needs to be stopped: Brook Lopez. The 7-footer had 23 points, 7 rebounds in the team's previous meeting. He complements his low-post skills with a decent jumper. Perk will have his hands full.
The C's will lose if... two or three more guys get hurt? New Jersey is one of the worst teams in the league (low scoring, poor defensive, turnover prone), I just can't see the Celtics losing to this team unless something happens to Ray, Paul or Rajon.
Miscellaneous: Devin Harris (wrist tendinitis) is questionable. The Celtics have beaten NJ ten straight times, including an 86-76 win in New Jersey on Nov. 7. The Nets are last in the NBA in field goal percentage (.420) and scoring (89.8).
Prediction: Celtics 101 - Nets 88
After the jump, the Nets dancers.