by Casey Holdahl

The Portland Trail Blazers (23-14) face what might be their toughest road game of the season Wednesday night in a clash with the league-leading Boston Celtics (30-6).

The Trail Blazers enter the game having beaten the New Jersey Nets 99-73 Monday night for their sixth road win of the year. With that victory, Portland once again took sole possession of first-place in the Northwest Division, bettering the Denver Nuggets by just a half game.

The Celtics, despite losing their last two games (both to the Washington Wizards), still own the best overall record in the NBA. What’s more, they’ve yet to be beaten this season by a team from the Western Conference, which is sure to give both teams a little extra motivation.

The matchup features two of the biggest turnarounds in the NBA this season. Boston, thanks in large part to the offseason additions of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, has already won six more games this season than they did all of last season.

Portland’s resurgence, while not as dramatic as Boston’s, has been much more unexpected, with the Blazers improving by nine wins compared to this time last season without the addition of two perennial All-Stars.

The Blazers lost both contests against the Celtics last year by an average of 18 points, so expect revenge to be on Portland’s mind when they take to the floor of the TD Banknorth Garden.

The game airs on Comcast Sports Network and on 750 KXL starting at 4:30 p.m.