Football
19y

Washington (15-12) at Boston (12-16) 3:00 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics hope to rebound from a
difficult road trip and end the year on a positive note when
they host the Washington Wizards on Friday at the FleetCenter.

After five wins in seven games, the Celtics dropped three
straight on the road by an average of 14.7 points.

In its latest loss, a 117-109 setback at Memphis on Wednesday,
Boston suffered a fourth-quarter collapse, continuing a problem
that has hounded the club all season.

Raef LaFrentz scored a season-high 28 points but the Celtics
were outscored in the fourth, 34-15. Boston's offense faltered
down the stretch after scoring 94 points through the first three
quarters.

The Celtics will be out to avenge one of those late-game
collapses Friday. On November 17, Boston scored 42 points in
the third quarter to take an 84-72 lead heading into the final
quarter at Washington.

The Celtics then produced just 16 points in the fourth quarter
and five more in the ensuing overtime in a 110-105 loss.

That setback dropped the Celtics to .500 and they have not had a
winning record since.

The Wizards, on the other hand, moved to .500 with that victory
and have since run off 11 wins in 19 games.

Gilbert Arenas scored 34 points but Washington suffered a dismal
second half of its own to fall to Detroit, 107-105, on
Wednesday. The Wizards led by 17 at halftime and five heading
into the fourth quarter but fell for the third time in four
games.

Boston had won 16 of the last 22 meetings between the teams
before the loss in November.

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