Preview: Pacers at Celtics

Tonight's Matchup
	vs.
12-21	Record	19-16
99.2	PPG	94.9
100.6	PPGA	96.0
45.2	FG%	43.4
46.0	Opp. FG%	45.0
40.5	Rebounds	41.7
19.8	Assists	21.0
16.3	Turnovers	16.8
6.8	Steals	7.8
5.0	Blocks	6.3
1-0	Season Series	0-1

Wednesday, January 10, 2007
TD Banknorth Garden, 7:30 PM
TV: Fox Sports Net New England
RADIO: WRKO 680 AM

After playing seven of their last eight games on the road, the Celtics return home to host the Indiana Pacers at the Garden Wednesday night. The C's are looking to beat Indiana for the second time this season after handing the Pacers a 114-88 thrashing at the Garden back on November 15.

The Celtics are 2-2 in January despite playing without Paul Pierce, who's recovering from a stress reaction in his left foot. Delonte West, who watched Tuesday's practice from the sidelines, is out for tonight's contest and may miss a few more games, according to Celtics Coach Doc Rivers. West, who's had back issues in the past, continues to convalesce from a few hard falls under the basket over the last few weeks and Sebastian Telfair will start in his place.

The Pacers come to town with star Jermaine O'Neal hobbled by a sore ankle, and there was speculation that he might sit out Tuesday night against the Atlanta Hawks, but he managed to play 31 minutes, score 10 points, grab eight rebounds and block four shots despite the bad wheel. Playing the second game of a back-to-back, O'Neal may play short minutes tonight in Boston if the ankle is giving him problems.

The Pacers tend to play a more controlled half-court game than the Celtics do, so beating Indiana to the boards will be critical to the Celtics' success.

"Obviously, were going to have to rebound the ball," Rivers said. "I said before the Orlando game that I thought the key to the game was rebounding, and we didn't pass that test. We're going to have to pass that test [against the Pacers]."