Boston Celtics Team Report - November 24

(Basketball News) - The Boston Celtics visit the Philadelphia 76ers tonight at the Wachovia Center. The Sixers defeated Boston in the season-opener for both teams, but the Celtics have won four of the last seven meetings. Boston. though, has lost two of its last three and seven of its last 10 in Philadelphia.

Boston dropped its third game in four tries on Tuesday, as they fell 106-96 to undermanned Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. Indiana played without Ron Artest, Jermaine O’Neal and Stephen Jackson who are serving suspensions for their conduct in the brawl at Detroit on Friday.

Paul Pierce benefited the most from the absence of Artest, as he tallied a team-high 20 points for the Celtics despite a sluggish first half. Artest, the NBA’s defending Defensive Player of the Year, has given Pierce fits through the course of his career.

Ricky Davis added 15 points with seven rebounds for the Celtics, while Gary Payton recorded 14 points to go with eight assists in a losing effort.

Boston, which will host LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, is just 1-1 away from home this season.