Celtics welcome Wizards to Beantown

The Celtics just ended a three-game road trip at 2-1, including a 124-120 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre.

Paul Pierce and Wally Szczerbiak both scored 22 points, while Raef LaFrentz added 20 and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who are 3 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Boston, which will travel to Philadelphia on Friday, is 4-4 in its last eight home games and 20-16 as the host this season.

Meanwhile, the Wizards ended a two-game losing streak with Tuesday’s 105-90 win over the New York Knicks at the Verizon Center.

Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison both scored 18 points in the win for Washington, which has a 1 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

Etan Thomas, Jared Jeffries and Gilbert Arenas had 13 points apiece in the triumph — Washington’s third in five games.

After the Wizards visit Boston, they will take on Atlanta at Philips Arena.

Washington is 2-3 in its last five road games and 13-22 away from the Verizon Center this season.

Wednesday’s game between Washington and Boston is the fourth and final meeting of the season. The Wizards have a 2-1 advantage this season, but Boston has won four of the last six matchups.

The Wizards have lost eight of their last 11 trips to Beantown.