Celtics (47-25) vs Spurs (43-28)
Game time: 8pm, TD Garden. TV – CSN. Radio –
WEEI-AM (850).
Team Leaders
Scoring
Bos: Pierce – 18.2 Spurs: Tim Duncan – 18.2
Rebounding
Bos: Perkins – 7.6
Spurs: Duncan – 10.2
Assists
Bos: Rondo – 9.8 Spurs: Tony Parker – 5.7
Who'll go off: Paul Pierce. Richard Jefferson has the athleticism and strength to check Paul Pierce, but does he have the will?
Who needs to be stopped: Manu Ginobili. He's averaging 27 points and 50% shooting over the last 5 games. I hope Ray Allen is bringing fresh legs to the Garden tonight.
The C's will lose if… 'Sheed is a no-show. Without Perk, the Celtics will need a team effort to battle Duncan, Antonio McDyess and DeJuan Blair in the paint. The Cs will need more than one rebound in 24 minutes from Wallace.
Miscellany: Kendrick Perkins (knee) is doubtful. Nate Robinson (ankle) is probable. Tony Parker (hand) is out. The Spurs are 7-4 since Parker went down with a broken hand. The Celtics beat the Spurs 90-83 on Dec. 3. Rasheed Wallace is averaging 9.0 points this season, but he has scored
just 14 (3.5 ppg) in his last four games.
Prediction: Celtics 96 – Spurs 94
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