Games Celtics Name Visit For Losing

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"Our mental approach to the game was much, much better to start the game, especially on the defensive end," said Afflalo, who also blocked two shots.

(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - You have to figure the loss of All-Star big man Al Horford will eventually catch up to the Atlanta Hawks. So far, however, Atlanta has kept its head above water and will try to finish a four-game homestand in perfect fashion when they host Jamal Crawford and the Portland Trail Blazers tonight at Philips Arena.

Crawford's troubles have coincided with Portland's although the club did snap a three-game skid and improved to 1-2 on a six-game road trip Monday in the Big Easy when LaMarcus Aldridge scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping the Blazers handle the New Orleans Hornets, 84-77.

"Sure it was ugly but we needed a win and we'll take it. We know we can play better and we know we'll have to play better, but we're happy with the win," Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said.

In Atlanta's most recent outing on Monday, Josh Smith poured in 28 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as the Hawks continued to surge with a 93-84 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Joe Johnson finished with 27 points and six assists for the Hawks, who have won three in a row and six of seven overall.

Their last three victories, against admittedly inferior competition in Charlotte, Minnesota and the Raptors, have come despite the fact they've played without Horford, who will be out for the next three to four months because of torn pec suffered last week.

(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince has scored 20 points in back-to-back contests but it hasn't been enough to lift his team to victory. Perhaps a third time will be a charm when Detroit takes on the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at Target Center. Prince is averaging 10.5 points this season and has scored in double figures over the last four games. He delivered his second straight 20-point effort in Tuesday's 97-80 loss at Houston, while Ben Gordon and Rodney Stuckey added 18 and 16 points, respectively, in defeat.

Prince posted two steals for 400 in his career and needs one block for 400. Greg Monroe had only four points and grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds. The Pistons, who are last in the Central Division, have lost eight of their last nine games and fell to 1-6 as the visitor this season. They are averaging a league-low 85.0 points per game and have one of the worst records in the NBA at 3-11.

Wolves guard Jose Barea (ankle) has missed the past three contests and is listed as questionable for tonight's game. Forward Michael Beasley (foot sprain) hasn't played in the last six games and is out indefinitely, while Ridnour (personal) is questionable versus Detroit.

"Once we get everybody healthy ... we're very good," said Love, who is just one 30-point effort short of tying Kevin Garnett's franchise record of four in a row set from March 22-28, 2000. "We can surprise a lot of people. We just want to continue to get better."

Jermaine O'Neal had 12 points and 11 boards in the setback, while Rajon Rondo ended with 12 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the Celtics, who are mired in their longest losing streak since a seven-game drought back in April of the 2006-07 campaign.

The Celtics have also lost four straight at home and are 3-4 as the host this season. They will also host Phoenix on the residency.

comments

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•    No better cure for a losing streak than playing the #Raptors. #Celtics

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•    Conversely, if I step on a creaky stair or floor board I hear the ditty of #SuperMario losing a life

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•    Bout to bust this nigga ass in the 2k12 #Blazers

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•    YES ! i love the Celtics , Bulls AND Heat !! #WhatchuGonDo lmao . NBA is my LIFE ♥

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•    Trip to London started well as am on the right train!

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•    Wat if the Heat go on a 10 game losing streak ..like wat yall gon do ??

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•    I've got a chip on my shoulder, i'm on a losing streak. there's a cloud of contempt hanging over me.

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•    johnson umbaugh think I'm picturesque and illustrative :)

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•    I've been on Chris Paul's sack since he scored that triple double against the Raptors in 06 bitchesssss

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•    Kings win, oh that means we go on a 50 game losing streak now

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•    talked with my mom <3 i think she likes that im making an effort to make us closer (:

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•    So I had 6 points tonight... Next week I'm gonna hit 40. #balluphomie

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•    Sighhhhh losing a best friend <<<<

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