The Boston Celtics will look to remain strong for their first game of the second half of the season Tuesday night when they attempt to come away with a rare road win against the Denver Nuggets at 9 p.m. ET.
Watch Boston Celtics vs. Denver Nuggets live stream, click here.
Boston (28-24) lost Rajon Rondo (torn ACL), Jared Sullinger (back surgery) and Leandro Barbosa (torn ACL) to season-ending injuries within the last month. The Celtics seemed headed in the wrong direction with a season-high six-game slide that culminated with Rondo's injury during a 123-111 double-overtime loss in Atlanta on Jan. 25.
They've since turned things around, winning eight of nine -- including victories over Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers before entering the break with a 71-69 win over Chicago on Wednesday.
Kevin Garnett, averaging 17.7 points and 10.2 rebounds over the past 10 games, is hoping to be rested for this season-high five-game road trip. He played just over 6 minutes in Sunday's All-Star game in Houston.
Garnett had 20 points, 18 rebounds and six assists in a season-high 47 minutes against the Nuggets last week. Paul Pierce is averaging 22.0 points over the last four matchups, getting a triple-double in the most recent with 27 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists.
The Nuggets are certainly rested following the break since they didn't have an All-Star despite sitting in fifth place in the Western Conference and ranking third in the league with 105.1 points per game.
Leading scorer Danilo Gallinari (illness) and Andre Iguodala (neck) missed the last two games, including a 119-108 loss at Brooklyn on Wednesday.
Ty Lawson is averaging 28.0 points and 9.0 assists while shooting 62.3 percent -- 9 for 14 from 3-point range -- during the losing streak. He had a game-high 29 points against the Celtics on Feb. 10.
