Spurs Vs. Celtics: San Antonio Looks To Rebound In Clash Of The Titans

The San Antonio Spurs will look to rebound from a rare loss as they face the East-leading Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden at 7:30 PM Eastern on Wednesday.

The Spurs dropped a game to the New York Knicks Tuesday night; it was just San Antonio's second loss in the past month. The Spurs still have a league-best 29-5 record and a solid three-game lead over the chasing Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference.

The Celtics, meanwhile, lead the East with 26-7 record. Boston dropped three of four to end December as the defending conference champs had a spell without two stars, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett. Rondo's back, and he brought the wins with him as the Celtics took care of a back-to-back with the Raptors and Wolves earlier this week. Garnett remains out.

Boston is busy trying to hold off the Miami Heat, who now trail the Celtics by just two games for the No. 1 seed in the East. The Chicago Bulls (three games back) and Orlando Magic (5.5 games back) have also been pressing toward the top of the conference; as such, another losing stretch could put the Celtics' designs on home court advantage for the Eastern bracket of the playoffs in serious trouble.

Tony Parker scored 26 for the Spurs Tuesday night, but San Antonio's defense folded under constant aggression from the flyin' Knicks. Boston's offense isn't nearly as daunting (though Paul Pierce has been a shooting star all year), but the Celtics' defense is tops in the NBA and will test San Antonio's scoring attack.