76ers head to Beantown for showdown with Celts

This is the third meeting of the season between the Atlantic Division rivals. In the two previous contests, the Celtics beat Philadelphia, 110-103, on November 30th at home, while the Sixers knocked off Boston, 125-124, in triple overtime on January 13th at the Wachovia Center.

Philadelphia has won four of the last six meetings in this series. The Sixers have lost three of five and four of their last seven at Boston.

The Sixers are scheduled to host the Celtics on April 7th in the fourth and final meeting of the campaign between the teams.

Philadelphia will try and rebound from a tough loss. On Sunday, Stephen Jackson had 15 points, including the game-winning basket with 2.9 seconds remaining, to lift the Indiana Pacers over the 76ers, 94-93, at the Wachovia Center.

All-Star Allen Iverson finished with 33 points and nine assists and Chris Webber registered 17 points and five rebounds in the loss to Indiana for the Sixers, who lost for just the second time since the All-Star break.

The 76ers, who are 5-2 since the All-Star break and seeded seventh in the East, are just 11-17 as the visitor this season. They have won two of their last three contests on the road.

Boston, meanwhile, posted a 116-115 overtime win against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

Paul Pierce had 31 points, including the game-winning jumper as the buzzer sounded at the Verizon Center. Ryan Gomes netted a career-high 27 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Celtics, who have won four of their last six games. Wally Szczerbiak collected 23 points in the win.

The Celtics will open a three-game homestand and have won three of their last five at TD Banknorth Garden. Boston is 17-13 as the host this season.