Celtics (37-21) vs. Bobcats (28-30)
Game time: 7:30pm, TD Garden. TV - CSN. Radio - WEEI-AM (850)
Team Leaders
Scoring
Bos: Pierce - 17.8 Bobcats: Stephen Jackson - 21.0
Rebounding
Bos: Perkins - 7.9 Bobcats: Gerald Wallace - 10.6
Assists
Bos: Rondo - 10.0 Bobcats: Raymond Felton - 5.2
Who'll go off: Ray Allen. He's averaging 22.5 ppg and 56% 3FG in two games vs Charlotte this season.
Who needs to be stopped: Stephen Jackson. He brings the most firepower on a team that ranks 28th in scoring.
The C's will lose if... The Cs have owned the Bobcats this year (92-59 win on Oct.28, 108-90 win on Dec. 1), yet they are nearly equal in all the major statistical categories. If the Celtics do not give max effort on both ends of the floor, we might be dealing with another head-scratching loss.
Miscellany: The Celtics and Bobcats are giving up 94.3 ppg, tied for 1st in the NBA. The Celtics are 5-7 in their last 12 games at the Garden. Charlotte is 8-22 on the road. The Bobcats are coming off an 89-84 home loss to Dallas on Monday night. Charlotte centers Nazr Mohammed (back spasms, illness) and Tyson Chandler (ankle) both missed Monday's game.
Prediction: Celtics 96 - Bobcats 95
