Boston (29-8) at Cleveland (28-6) 8:00 p.m. EST

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics' recent slump cost them
a lofty home winning streak.

The Celtics have a chance to bounce back and take out their
angst on a budding rival when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers
on Friday.

The defending NBA Champions, Boston has lost six of eight
following a franchise-record, 19-game winning streak, including
an 89-85 setback to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

The loss was the Celtics' third in a row and snapped a 13-game
winning streak at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Paul Pierce, who had 26 points against the Rockets, accounts the
recent slide to a lapse in defense.

"Right now, our defense is not getting the job done," Pierce
said. "When you look at us, that's one of the first things we
talk about. That's the type of team we are and, when we don't
defend it doesn't allow us to get out and run the break.

"We're not causing turnovers like we want to. I told the guys
we need to get our defensive swagger back. It's been broken
these last 10 or 12 days. We know what we're capable of; it's
just about going back to the basics and doing what we do."

Defense was key for Boston during last season's run to the
title, particularly in the Eastern Conference semifinals when it
was pushed to seven games by LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

James and the rest of the team have not forgotten about that
series or the 90-85 season-opening loss they endured against
Celtics.

Cleveland, which owns the top spot in the East, would like
nothing more to prove its standing against second-place Boston
and earn its 19th straight home victory, a streak the Celtics
would love to end.