Preview: Celtics at Kings

Tonight's Matchup

	vs.
13-38	Record	22-28
96.6	PPG	100.2
99.8	PPGA	100.8
44.7	FG%	44.8
46.3	Opp. FG%	46.2
40.1	Rebounds	39.9
20.0	Assists	20.3
16.4	Turnovers	14.4
7.0	Steals	8.2
4.9	Blocks	3.2
0-1	Season Series	1-0

Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Arco Arena, 10:00 p.m.
TV: Fox Sports Net New England
RADIO: WRKO 850

Fresh off the All-Star Break, the Celtics head out on the road for a five-game West Coast swing starting tonight as they meet the Kings in Sacramento.

Buoyed by Paul Pierce's return to the lineup, the C's are looking for their second straight victory tonight after they blew out the Milwaukee Bucks last Wednesday night at the Garden. Pierce is averaging 30.5 PPG over his last two outings, and he's hit 9 of 15 three-pointers since returning to the lineup February 9 against the New Jersey Nets.

A little momentum could go a long way for the Celtics on this trip.

"Definitely, we want to come out and make a statement the second half of the season," said Rajon Rondo in Tuesday's Boston Globe. "We want to keep the momentum up. We have everybody back."

Of course, the big news from Las Vegas is that Gerald Green returns to the Celtics as the reigning Slam Dunk champion, and the team is hoping he can carry that win over into his play on the court. Despite a toothache that hampered him all weekend, Green electrified the crowd with some creative dunks and a little bit of showmanship as well.

As for the Kings, they come into tonight's action having lost three straight games, including their last two on the road against Houston and New Orleans/Oklahoma City, as they got crushed on the glass in both contests.

Ron Artest did have a 39-point explosion in the loss to the Rockets, but that was the lone bright spot for the Kings over that three-game stretch.

Point Guard

Rajon Rondo
Points: 5.4
Rebounds: 3.0
Assists: 3.4

Mike Bibby
Points: 16.8
Rebounds: 3.4
Assists: 5.3

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Shooting Guard

Delonte West
Points: 10.8
Rebounds: 2.9
Assists: 4.3

Kevin Martin
Points: 21.0
Rebounds: 4.2
Assists: 2.1

-

Small Forward

Paul Pierce
Points: 26.2
Rebounds: 6.8
Assists: 4.1

Ron Artest
Points: 18.0
Rebounds: 6.8
Assists: 3.1

-

Power Forward

Ryan Gomes
Points: 12.3
Rebounds: 5.8
Assists: 1.8

Kenny Thomas
Points: 5.5
Rebounds: 6.6
Assists: 1.3

-

Center

Al Jefferson
Points: 13.9
Rebounds: 10.6
Assists: 1.0

Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Points: 10.2
Rebounds: 5.3
Assists: 1.5

-

Bench

Wally Szczerbiak
Points: 15.5
Rebounds: 3.2
Assists: 1.7

John Salmons
Points: 8.4
Rebounds: 3.8
Assists: 3.1

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- Compiled by Peter F. Stringer