Celtics (20-4) vs 76ers (6-19)
Game time: 7:30pm, TD Garden. TV - CSN. Radio - WEEI-AM (850).
Team Leaders
Scoring
Bos: Pierce - 18.0 76ers: Andre Iguodala - 19.7
Rebounding
Bos: Perkins - 7.5 76ers: Sam Dalembert - 8.4
Assists
Bos: Rondo - 9.5 76ers: Iguodala - 5.5
Who'll go off: Paul Pierce. He's averaging 24 points against Philadelphia this season. The Truth has been quiet lately, and the defensively challenged Sixers might wake him from his slumber.
Who needs to be stopped: Iguodala had 25 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists in the last game against Boston (a 113-110 Celtics victory). the Sixers have very little firepower outside of AI. Shut him down and force the likes of Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holliday and Willie Green to beat you.
The C's will lose if... they don't play defense on the perimeter. The 76ers shot 65% (13-20) from 3 in that last game vs Boston. Jason Kapono (4-6 3FG) had 20 points.
Wildcard: Allen Iverson and Lou Williams are out with injuries, but center Marreese Speights is back in the rotation (knee). Although it doesn't fit with Philly's run-and-gun philosophy, coach Eddie Jordan said he liked what he saw when Elton Brand and Speights played together against Cleveland. If Philly decides to go big, the Celtics must rebound.
Prediction: Celtics 109 - 76ers 91