The Nets are a combined 1-7 against division leaders: Boston (0-2), Cleveland (0-1), Orlando (0-1); Denver (1-0), San Antonio (0-2) and the Lakers (0-1).

So Wednesday represents the third meeting of the season with the Celtics, and the first since ex-Net Stephon Marbury joined Boston. The Celtics hammered the Nets in both previous meetings, winning by a combined 52 points. One of the Nets' defeats contained the most controversial decision of the season.

On Jan. 14 in Boston, it was no contest in the second half, which began with the Celtics unloading a 37-19 third quarter. Paul Pierce had 22 points and Kevin Garnett scored 20 points in Boston's 118-86 victory.

Then, three nights later in New Jersey, coach Lawrence Frank, reacting to an "embarrassing" Nets' performance, benched stars Devin Harris and Vince Carter for the entire second half after the Celtics built a 68-39 halftime lead. Rookie center Brook Lopez had 28 points and 10 rebound for the Nets.

NETS 99, BUCKS 95: After one of their most disheartening losses of the season, the Nets bounced back on the road for potentially one of their most important wins in their quest for the playoffs. And they did it despite off nights from Vince Carter (5-of-20 shooting, 15 points) and Devin Harris (3-of-14, 14 points). So the Nets, who overcame an eight-point fourth quarter deficit, used 24 points and 12 rebounds from rookie center Brook Lopez plus a huge effort from the bench: Nets reserves outscored the Bucks' subs, 40-19. The Nets missed 16 of their first 18 three-point shots before nailing 7-of-9, including a decisive triple by Jarvis Hayes with 18.5 seconds left to break a 90-90 game. The Nets moved to within a half-game of the eighth-place Bucks.