Boston Celtics

Welcome to the Garden

By Gary Dzen

1 minute to read

Welcome to the Garden, where the Boston Celtics (12-35) will tip off against the NBA-champion Miami Heat (23-25) at 7:30 p.m.

The Celtics can extend their franchise-record losing streak to 16 games with a loss tonight. The NBA record for consecutive losses is held by the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lost 24 straight-games between the 1981 and 1982 seasons. The longest single-season losing streak, held by two teams, is 23 games.

Boston has three home games remaining (tonight against Miami, Friday against New Jersey, and next Wednesday against Milwaukee before a five-game road trip. The West Coast swing will take them to Sacramento, Phoenix, Los Angeles (Lakers), Utah, and Houston. The Celtics could tie Cleveland’s streak Jan. 26 against the Rockets,

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Rookie Leon Powe is the only Celtics player warming up at the moment. Powe is working on free-throw length jumpers. Jason Kapono is the only player warming up right now for the Heat.

Bolstered by the return of Shaquille O’Neal, Miami has won its last four games.

  • Gary Payton will start tonight for the Heat, according to Miami coach Ron Rothstein. Payton was not talking to the media before the game.
  • Former Celtic Antoine Walker looked to be slimmer at first glance in the Miami locker room. Walker has been battling to stay in shape this season.

    We’ll be back with player comments and lineups in a bit.

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