Game 46 Preview: Nets at Celtics

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will return to the place where they raised a
championship banner in 2008.

The day that Celtics fans have waited for since the NBA schedule was announced is finally here.

Two of the most beloved icons in franchise history finally make their return tonight to the TD Garden.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Brooklyn Nets (19-22) are in town to take on the Celtics (15-30).

Tonight marks the second of four meetings between the two Atlantic Division foes. Brooklyn got the better of Boston in their first matchup back on December 10 by defeating the Celtics in Brooklyn, 104-96.

After getting off to a slow start, Brooklyn has turned things around since the start of the new year. In 2014, the Nets are 9-1.

While starting center Brook Lopez is lost for the season, Brooklyn has gotten exceptional play from their bench, particularly Mirza Teletovic. Teletovic erupted for 34 points in 26 minutes off the bench in Brooklyn's last game against the Dallas Mavericks.

In their last ten games, the Nets have seen Garnett and Pierce finally play the way they are capable of playing.

Tonight marks the first of three straight games against divisional opponents for the Celtics.

But one thing's for certain: this is not your average regular season game.

Projected lineups:

Nets:

Shaun Livingston

Alan Anderson

Joe Johnson

Paul Pierce

Kevin Garnett

Celtics:

Rajon Rondo

Gerald Wallace 

Jeff Green
Brandon Bass

Jared Sullinger

Keys to the game:

1. Engage defensively: Both head coach Brad Stevens and Rajon Rondo mentioned after Friday night's loss that the team was not engaged on the defensive end. The Celtics allowed the Thunder to shoot 55% from the field and 39% from three-point range. That cannot happen tonight, as Brooklyn is in the top ten in three-point shooting and 13th in field-goal percentage.

2. Second-chance points: Part of the reason Brooklyn has won nine of its last ten games is that they have limited their opponents to a league-low 9.7 second-chance points. During that same span, Boston has the third-highest average with 16.3 second-chance points. Boston needs to work hard on the offensive glass against an improved Brooklyn defense.