Preview: Celtics at Clippers

Tonight's Matchup

	vs.
10-16	Record	11-16
100.0	PPG	95.1
100.6	PPGA	99.2
45.8	FG%	45.6
45.6	Opp. FG%	46.3
41.0	Rebounds	40.7
20.7	Assists	19.7
16.2	Turnovers	14.8
6.5	Steals	6.3
5.3	Blocks	5.6
0-0	Season Series	0-0

Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Staples Center, 10:30 PM
TV: Fox Sports Net New England
RADIO: WRKO 680 AM

The Celtics press on with their five-game road trip as they meet the Los Angeles Clippers at Staples Center tonight.

The Clippers (11-16) and Celtics (10-16) are each coming off a Tuesday night loss on the road. The Clippers fell to the Jazz in Utah last night while the Celtics lost in Denver to Allen Iverson and the Nuggets. The Celtics and Clippers split the season series last year, with the Celtics winning in LA on New Year's eve, while the Clippers returned the favor in February.

The Clippers are just 2-8 over their last 10 games, but nine of their 11 wins have come at home. They will be playing without Celtics-killer Sam Cassell (23.5 PPG in two meetings last season), who's struggling with plantar fasciitis, the very same injury that Kendrick Perkins hopes to come back from tonight. Perkins hasn't played since December 4 against the Bulls in Chicago. Meanwhile, Wally Szczerbiak says he's targeting Friday's game against Golden State for a return from his ankle sprain.

Delonte West had moved into the starting lineup last night for the Celtics, replacing Sebastian Telfair, but it's unclear if he'll be ready to go tonight after taking a rough spill near the end of the first half against the Nuggets. West is considered a gametime decision for tonight.

While the Celtics have been hamstrung with injuries in December, Al Jefferson continues to play well in the post, scoring 16 points and grabbing a new career high of 15 rebounds against Denver Tuesday night.

Point Guard

Sebastian Telfair
Points: 8.5
Rebounds: 1.7
Assists: 4.2

Shaun Livingston
Points: 9.5
Rebounds: 3.6
Assists: 5.2

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Shooting Guard

Tony Allen
Points: 8.8
Rebounds: 3.1
Assists: 1.2

Cuttino Mobley
Points: 12.6
Rebounds: 3.2
Assists: 2.5

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Small Forward

Gerald Green
Points: 6.5
Rebounds: 2.3
Assists: 0.8

Tim Thomas
Points: 9.2
Rebounds: 5.0
Assists: 1.8

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Power Forward

Ryan Gomes
Points: 11.0
Rebounds: 6.2
Assists: 2.3

Elton Brand
Points: 18.4
Rebounds: 8.9
Assists: 2.1

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Center

Al Jefferson
Points: 13.0
Rebounds: 9.5
Assists: 0.9

Chris Kaman
Points: 10.5
Rebounds: 7.7
Assists: 1.1

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Bench

Brian Scalabrine
Points: 3.1
Rebounds: 2.0
Assists: 1.0

Corey Maggette
Points: 15.3
Rebounds: 5.3
Assists: 1.5

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- Compiled by Peter F. Stringer