NJ at Boston

[Steve Huffman <stevhuff@eastky.net>]

New Jersey Nets (6-3) at Boston Celtics (5-6), 8 p.m.

TV  @  8:00 P.M.

     TNT           G5-17
     SpChNE     W1-14
     SpChNY    W1-18

                 The  Nets  and  Celtics  will  complete  a
home-and-home  series
            tonight.  New Jersey defeated Boston by eight points at home
Wednesday
            and has won the last  five  encounters  in  the  series.
Boston  has
            dropped 14 of its last 18 games against the Nets.

                 The Nets have won two in a row after a three-game
losing  streak.
            They  are 2-2 on the road after a five-point victory at
Cleveland five
            days ago. New Jersey is 2-0 versus the Atlantic Division.

                 The Celtics had a four-game  winning  streak  snapped
Wednesday.
            Boston  has  won  two straight at the FleetCenter to improve
to 3-3 at
            home. Boston is just 1-4 versus the Atlantic Divisio


                PROBABLE   STARTING LINEUPS

   NEW JERSEY                       Boston

Forward     Gatling               Forward     McCarty
Forward     Gill                    Forward     Walker
Center       Williams             Center       Knight
Guard        Cassell               Guard        Brown
Guard        Kittles                Guard        Billups


         New Jersey Nets (6-3) at Boston Celtics (5-6), 8 p.m.
         -----------------------------------------------------

         1997-98 Head-to-head record - New Jersey 1-0
         1996-97 Head-to-head record - New Jersey 4-0
         1995-96 Head-to-head record - Tied 2-2
         1994-95 Head-to-head record - New Jersey 3-2
         Overall Head-to-head record - Boston 75-36
         Home Record: New Jersey 4-1; Boston 3-3
         Away Record: New Jersey 2-2; Boston 2-3
         Record vs. Atlantic Division: New Jersey 2-0; Boston 1-4
         Record vs. Eastern Conference: New Jersey 5-3; Boston 4-6

                          1997-98 Meetings
                          ----------------
                    11/19 - New Jersey, 108-100 (at NJ)

         Note - New Jersey has won five straight and eight
                     of the last 10 meetings.
         Note - New Jersey has won 14 of the last 18 meetings.


New Jersey last five games
         --------------------------
11/08 - L at  Chicago, 86-99
11/13 - L vs. Cleveland, 74-85
11/15 - L at  Detroit, 88-96 ot
11/16 - W at  Cleveland, 77-72
11/19 - W vs. Boston, 108-100

Boston last five games
         --------------------------
11/12 - W vs. Denver, 96-86
11/14 - W vs. Toronto, 103-99
11/15 - W at  Philadelphia, 107-101
11/18 - W at  Toronto, 122-109
11/19 - L at  New Jersey, 100-108

Ahead for the Celtics

Nov.  23  Sun       Detroit  at  Boston    7:00 P.M.
Nov.  26  Wed.     Lakers  at  Boston    7:00 P.M.
Nov.  28  Fri.        Phoenix at Boston    7:00 P.M.

Steve Huffman