Celts aim to cut down Nets in Beantown

The Celtics were eliminated from the playoff race after Wednesday’s 117-112 loss to the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. MVP candidate Paul Pierce netted a game-high 30 points, while Gerald Green added 22 off the bench for the Celtics, losers of three of their last four games.

Boston returns home where it has lost three in a row and owns a 20-18 record this season.

Friday’s game between the Nets and Celtics is the third of four meetings this season. The season series is tied at a game apiece with the fourth and final meeting to be held in New Jersey on April 16.

New Jersey has won four of the last six meetings and nine of 13 against the Celtics. The Nets, though, have lost three of its last four at Boston.

Meanwhile, the Nets have lost two straight and three of their last four games overall since their franchise-tying, 14-game winning streak.

New Jersey suffered its second straight loss on Wednesday night against the playoff-hungry Philadelphia 76ers at Continental Airlines Arena.

Vince Carter had 21 points and six assists and Nenad Krstic contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who already have the Atlantic Division wrapped up.

With four games to play on the regular-season schedule, New Jersey trails Miami by four games for second place in the East.

The Nets are 19-20 away from Continental Airlines Arena this season.