Tip: 8PM Court: TD Garden Watch it: TNT Hear it: WEEI
Referees: Monty McCutchen, Nick Buchert and Ed Malloy
Spread: Even
The Matchup
 |
 |
| Record: 25-23 | Record: 23-26 |
| At home: 17-9 | On road: 8-16 |
| Streak: Won 5 | Streak: Won 3 |
| Leaders | Leaders |
| Buckets: Pierce (18.5 ppg) | Buckets: Kobe Bryant (27.6 ppg) |
| Boards: Garnett (7.4 rpg) | Boards: Dwight Howard (11.9 rpg) |
| Dimes: Pierce (4.0 apg) | Dimes: Steve Nash (7.8 apg) |
| For the Stat Geeks: | For the Stat Geeks: |
| Offensive Rating: 102.2 (26th NBA) | Offensive Rating: 107.7 (8th NBA) |
| Defensive Rating: 102.7 (7th NBA) | Defensive Rating: 105.9 (16th NBA) |
| Pace: 91.3 (17th NBA) | Pace: 94.6 (3rd NBA) |
Last time
The Lakers swept the season series last year. Boston fell 88-87 in OT at the Garden, and 97-94 in Staples. LA has won 4 straight regular season games in Boston. Ouch.
This time
Get it to: Kevin Garnett
Sure, the big fella might be a bit fatigued after playing 32 minutes and carrying the Celtics last night in Toronto, but the Lakers have a damaged front line. Pau Gasol (foot) is out for several weeks and Dwight Howard is questionable (shoulder). I hope Earl Clark and Robert Sacre are ready for a heavy dose of KG.
Gotta stop: Kobe Bryant
No Pau, a damaged Dwight and the spotlight of a nationally televised game means Kobe (that mug shot never gets old) might take 45 shots tonight. I’m not sure how many looks Kobe gets in the post in Mike D’Antoni’s offense, but the Lakers might go there considering the size advantage over Boston’s guards.
The Wild Card: Metta World Peace vs Paul Pierce
I’ll give Artest credit, he’s does a helluva job irritating Paul Pierce. I’m hoping Pierce stays in control, reigns in the one-on-one play and gives the game what it needs.
How we see it goin’ down
The Lakers have won 6 of 7. For all the praise heaped on Kobe over this stretch for his passing (averaging 7.8 assists), his shooting has been atrocious: 38% in his last 5 and 41% of his last ten.
The Celtics are never good on the second night of back-to-backs, but I don’t see them losing this game. Not against a Lakers squad missing Gasol.
Celtics 106
Lakers 98
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