Preview, Wizards @ C's

[Steve Huffman <stevhuff@eastky.net>]

BOSTON CELTICS ON TV
-------------------------------
W1-14        SpChNE
W1-14        SpChNE    Replay @ 1:00 A.M.
S3-23        HTS
S3-23        HTS        Replay @ 1:00 A.M.
PrimeStar
Direct TV

 Friday, December 12th
---------------------

 NBA on TV
-------------------------------
Washington at Boston, 7 p.m. - W1-14s, S3-23s
Chicago at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. - W1-8s
Denver at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. - F1-18s
Miami at Indiana, 8 p.m. - G5-17s,  TNT
Dallas at Utah, 9 p.m. - Land lines
Portland at Seattle, 10 p.m. - F1-22s
Golden State at Vancouver, 10 p.m. - No scheduled television
Houston at LA Lakers, 10:30 p.m. - F1-7s
Atlanta at LA Clippers, 10:30 p.m. - No scheduled television


NBA Preview (Washington-Boston)

Posted: Fri December 12, 1997 at 10:32 a.m EST

Washington (9-12) at Boston (8-11) 7:00 pm EST

The Washington Wizards try to translate their recent home
success into some wins on the road tonight as they visit the
Boston Celtics in an Atlantic Division matchup.

Washington dropped its first five games at home, but has won
four straight since moving into the MCI Center. The Wizards
won four of their first six road contests, but have lost five
of six since.

Ledell Eackles scored 24 points in 24 minutes off the bench
and Juwan Howard added 23 in the Wizards' 104-101 loss
at Charlotte on Wednesday. Despite the setback, the Wizards
have been playing well, winning four of five.

The Celtics snapped their five-game losing streak on Wednesday
with a 96-91 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. Rookie
Chauncey Billups had his best game as a Celtic with 21 points.

Tonight's game should offer the Celtics a bit of a break, since
they have played six straight games against teams with a .500
or better record. Boston is 5-0 against teams below the .500 mark.

The Wizards swept four games from Boston last season and
have won three straight in Boston.

© 1997 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP


WASHINGTON'S    PROBABLE STARTERS:

F         Juwan Howard
              Averaging 19.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg & 3.1 apg.

F        Chris Webber
             Averaging 20.7 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 3.7 apg & 1.50 bpg.

C        Terry Davis
             Averaging 5.9 ppg & 7.9 rpg.

G        Calbert Cheaney
              Averaging 11.4 ppg, 3.6 rpg & 1.9 apg.

G        Rod Strickland
              Averaging 16.7 ppg, 11.0 apg, 5.3 rpg & 1.76spg.



INJURY REPORT:
Injured List: Gheorghe Muresan (tendon, right ankle), Tim
Legler (pulled right hamstring), God Shammgod (tendinitis,
left knee), Darvin Ham (hyperextended left knee)-probable.

WIZARD'S  LAST GAME:

Charlotte (12/10)...Despite the Wizards' attempt to come back
in the fourth quarter, they were defeated by the Hornets
(101-104) in Charlotte. The Wizards  trailed much of the game
and the Hornets led by as much as 17 points early in  the fourth
quarter. Webber and Eackles hit a combined four 3-pointers
in the first  five minutes of the fourth to help cut the Hornets lead
to less than ten. For the second night in a row the Wizards bench
made substantial contributions, Ledell Eackles led the team with
24 points, connecting on four of his six 3-pointers. Five of the
Wizards players (Howard, Strickland, Cheaney, Murray and
Grant) were perfect from the free throw line, while the team shot
43% from the the field. Terry Davis pulled down a game-high
12 rebounds and Rod Strickland dished a game-high eight assists.
Glen Rice led Charlote in points with 29 and Anthony Mason pulled
down a team high ten rebounds.

Game #20
Home Game #13
At the  FleetCenter
12 Dec 1997, at 19:00:00

BOSTON'S  PROBABLE STARTERS:



F        Antoine Walker
               Celtics leader in scoring with 22.1 ppg. and
                rebounding with 10.2 rpg. averages.
F        Walter McCarty
               Averaging 11.2 ppg. and 30 minutes per game.

C        Travis Knight
               Team's 2nd leading rebounder with 7.3 rpg.
               average while averaging 9.9 ppg.

G        Ron Mercer
              Team's 2nd leading scorer with 13 ppg. average.


G        Chauncey Billups
              Averaging 9.5 ppg. and 3.3 apg. in 21 minutes
              per game.


INJURY REPORT:
Pervis Ellison is listed as questionable with knee pain. Dee
Brown was placed on the Injured List (12/10) due to Influenza.
John Thomas was  placed on the Injured List (11/29) with a
left quadriceps contusion. Roy Rogers was placed on the
Injured List (10/30) with right knee pain.

 BOSTON'S  LAST GAME:

Boston topped Milwaukee 96-91 in the FleetCenter (12/10)...
the Celtics halted a  5-game losing streak with this tough 5-point
home victory... Boston led by 5 after one, 9 at the half and 18
after three quarters, but had to hold off a furious Milwaukee rally
in the fourth quarter... the Bucks shot 44% to 43% by the Green
while Boston controlled the boards 46-36... Glenn Robinson was
ejected in the 1st half after picking up 2 technical fouls while
arguing with the officials... Chauncey Billups delivered a team-high
21 points, and Antoine Walker added 19  points for Boston...
Ray Allen posted 23 points for the Bucks.

AHEAD FOR THE CELTICS
-----------------------------------------------
December 13 @ Detroit 7:30 WSBK
                 15 Philadelphia 7:00 SCNE
                 17 @ Toronto 7:00 SCNE
                  21 LA Clippers 7:00 SCNE
                  23 Charlotte 8:00 TNT


NBA MATCHUPS
  YEAR TO DATE
  FRI, DEC 12        SU     ATS    OU
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   1 WIZARDS      9-12   10-8   10-7
   2 CELTICS        8-11   12-7   11-8

LAST 5       HOME OR AWAY        STREAKS
  FRI, DEC 12         SU     ATS   PF-PA     OU          SU  ATS OU
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   1 WIZARDS        1-4    2-2-0   95-100  3-0-0     L1  W5  O4
   2 CELTICS          2-3    3-2-0   95-98    2-3-0    W1  W1  U1


*** NBA Matchup - Washington at Boston ***

Washington Wizards (9-12) at Boston Celtics (8-11), 7 p.m.
----------------------------------------------------------

1997-98 Head-to-head record - First meeting
1996-97 Head-to-head record - Washington 4-0
1995-96 Head-to-head record - Tied 2-2
1994-95 Head-to-head record - Boston 3-1
Overall Head-to-head record - Boston 140-81
Home Record: Washington 4-5; Boston 6-6
Away Record: Washington 5-7; Boston 2-5
Record vs. Atlantic Division: Washington 1-6; Boston 2-5
Record vs. Eastern Conference: Washington 2-12; Boston 7-9

1996-97 Meetings
 ----------------
11/16 - Washington, 106-92 (at Was)
01/18 - Washington, 112-106 (at Bos)
03/26 - Washington, 105-92 (at Was)
04/06 - Washington, 120-114 (at Bos)

Note - Washington has won four straight and six of the last seven
meetings.

Washington last five games
 --------------------------
12/02 - W vs. Seattle, 95-78
12/04 - W vs. Sacramento, 118-96
12/06 - W vs. Minnesota, 114-103
12/09 - W vs. New Jersey, 120-99
12/10 - L at  Charlotte, 101-104



 Boston last five games
 --------------------------
11/28 - L vs. Phoenix, 108-112 ot
11/29 - L at  Cleveland, 97-103
12/03 - L vs. Chicago, 87-97
12/05 - L at  Miami, 97-117
12/10 - W vs. Milwaukee, 96-91


Steve Huffman