Currently Boston holds the No. 1 spot in the East but by just 1.5 games over the Chicago Bulls. And the C’s enter off a stunning home loss to the Clippers, 108-103. At one point the Celtics were down by 23 points in that one. Boston trailed 30-17 after one quarter and lost for the first time in six games since obtaining Nenad Krstic and Jeff Green in a trade with Oklahoma City. Boston was dominated in the paint and has a major problem with a lack of size with Shaquille O’Neal remaining out with an injury.

The 76ers have been surging and most if not all of the credit goes to Coach Doug Collins. Philly started 5-14 but is now 33-31 and seventh in the East. However, their three-game winning streak was stopped on Wednesday with a 110-105 overtime loss to Oklahoma City. The Sixers have still won seven of nine. Andre Iguodala has three triple-doubles in that nine-game stretch.

Boston is 2-0 vs. Philadelphia this season but only won the games by an average margin of 2.5 points. The last time these two teams met in Philadelphia, it took a Rajon Rondo-to-Kevin Garnett alley-oop lay-in with 1.4 seconds to play for the Celtics to win 102-101. Philly’s Elton Brand, the team’s leading scorer, has gotten the best of the head-to-head matchup vs. Garnett this season. In the two games, Brand is averaging 14.5 points and 13.0 rebounds while Garnett is averaging 13.0 points and 6.5 rebounds. However, the C’s are 20-5 this year when KG gets 10 boards.

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