(Sports Network) - The Boston Celtics will try to get back into the win column
and exact revenge of an earlier loss to the Milwaukee Bucks when the two teams
collide Saturday at the Bradley Center.
The Bucks posted a 99-88 triumph at Boston on Nov. 2, ending a six-game losing
streak in the series. However, Boston still has won 14 of the past 18 meetings
between the Eastern Conference inhabitants and is unbeaten in three
consecutive trips to Brew City.
Boston had a modest two-game winning streak stopped in Friday's 106-100
decision to the Atlantic Division-rival Philadelphia 76ers. Paul Pierce scored
a team-high 24 points to go with five assists and Kevin Garnett contributed 19
points and 10 rebounds.
"Well, they beat us in transition. I think it's pretty simple," Celtics coach
Doc Rivers said. "They got a lot of secondary early breaks and just beat us
down the floor and they attacked."
Rajon Rondo scored 14 points and dished out 20 assists in the setback. It was
Rondo's 29th consecutive game with 10 or more assists, which tied an NBA
record set by John Stockton. Stockton did it back in 1992.
Jason Terry scored 13 points in defeat for the Celtics. Garnett is 20 points
shy of matching Allen Iverson (24,368) for 17th on the all-time scoring list.
This marked the first regular season meeting between the teams since Boston
eliminated Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference semifinals in seven games
last season. Philadelphia held off a late Boston rally and scored 26 fast-
break points.
The Celtics are slated to visit Chicago on Monday.
Milwaukee is 3-1 on the season and will play three of their next four games in
front of the home crowd.
In Friday's 101-91 triumph over the winless Washington Wizards on the road,
Monta Ellis delivered 22 points and Brandon Jennings had 12 and seven assists
for Milwaukee, which got 13 points and nine rebounds from both Mike Dunleavy
and Larry Sanders.
"We pushed the lead up once in the second half, but gave it right back to
them," Bucks coach Scott Skiles said. "We were able to push it up again and
our bench was great tonight. We got a lot of contributions from our guys on
the bench and that was good."
The Bucks had 21 turnovers after turning it over just 10 times on Wednesday in
a loss to Memphis. Jennings could be facing a one-game suspension for getting
ejected following a shoving match with Washington's Bradley Beal.
The Sports Network