Music: {allcanada} RAPTORS TRAVEL TO BOSTON TO TAKE ON RESURGENT CELTICS

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

{allcanada} RAPTORS TRAVEL TO BOSTON TO TAKE ON RESURGENT CELTICS

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(Sports Network) - The Toronto Raptors travel to Boston tonight to take on Paul Pierce and the Celtics at TD Garden.

Toronto has dropped two of three games since posting consecutive wins and is coming off a 100-77 setback against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

Jerryd Bayless scored 14 points and Ed Davis recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards for Toronto.

"We came out with a competitive spirit, but I didn't think we sustained it long enough," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. "I was disappointed in not sustaining the competitive spirit, especially in the second quarter when the game got out of hand."

Toronto's Andrea Bargnani missed his third straight game with a left calf strain and he is out indefinitely. The Raptors will play three of their next four games on the road and are 5-9 away from Air Canada Centre this season.

The Raptors suffered a 96-73 loss at Boston on Jan. 18, as Rondo scored a game-best 21 points. Gary Forbes scored 18 points to pace a Raptors team that was held to 37.7 percent shooting in the game.

The Celtics meanwhile appear to be back on track as they commence a five-game homestand.

Boston will also host the Knicks, Grizzlies, Bobcats and Lakers, and is 6-6 in Beantown this season. Boston has won five of six games and recorded a 93-90 victory at Cleveland on Tuesday at Quicken Loans Arena thanks to 20 points from Paul Pierce.

Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass both finished with 13 points for Boston, which earned a split of a home-and-home series with the Cavs after dropping an 88-87 decision Sunday.

"I thought in Boston we didn't handle their pressure really well," said Garnett. "I thought tonight we responded with buckets and execution."

Boston point guard Rajon Rondo missed his seventh straight game due to a wrist injury and he is out indefinitely. Big man Jermaine O'Neal was back in the lineup after missing some time with a balky knee.

The Celtics have won four straight and 12 of the last 13 meetings with Toronto, losers in seven straight and 16 of 18 trips to TD Garden.