Celtics start road trip in Sacramento

This is the first game back for both teams since the All-Star break.

Boston begins a five-game road trip this evening. On February 14th, Paul Pierce poured in 32 points as the Celtics ended a franchise-record 18-game losing streak with a 117-97 blowout win over the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Banknorth Garden.

Gerald Green ended with 21 points and Al Jefferson netted 17 and gabbed 10 boards in the win over Milwaukee for the Celtics, who also snapped a franchise-worst 13-game home skid. The win was Boston’s first since January 5th.

Pierce, who has missed 24 games this season, leads the Celtics in scoring (26.2 ppg), while Jefferson has grabbed a team-best 10.6 rebounds per game and Delonte West has handed out a club-high 4.3 assists per contest.

The Celtics are a 8-17 on the road this season. They will also visit Phoenix, the Lakers, Utah and Houston on the current swing.

Boston has dropped eight in a row on the road. The Celtics last victory as the visitor was on January 5th against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Sacramento enters tonight’s contest on a three-game losing streak. The Kings are in last place in the Pacific Division and are in serious danger of having their eight-year playoff run halted.

Kevin Martin has been a pleasant surprise for the Kings, as he is averaging a team-best 21.0 points per game, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Defensive stopper Ron Artest is Sacramento’s top rebounder (6.8 rpg), while Mike Bibby has dished out team-high 5.3 assists per game.

On the injury front for Sacramento, center Brad Miller (partially torn fascia in left foot) is questionable for tonight’s contest. He is averaging 9.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 36 games this season. Miller last played on February 8th and has missed four straight games.

The Kings are 15-12 at home this season. After tonight’s game, they will embark on a four-game road trip. Sacramento will visit Washington, New Jersey, Indiana and Philadelphia.

Boston has lost 10 straight and 13 of its last 14 at Sacramento. The last time the Celtics defeated the Kings on the road was on February 16, 1996.

This is the second and final meeting of the campaign between the clubs. On January 19th, Martin had a team-high 27 points as the Kings topped the Celtics, 96-91, at TD Banknorth Garden.