Celtics Will Defend Playoff Edge; Bruins Fight Montreal for 1st Win

The Boston Celtics await the Philadelphia 76ers' invasion of the Garden Wednesday night in hopes of increasing their 1-0 playoff lead in the NBA's Eastern Division finals.

After sweeping past the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern semi-finals, the Celtics crushed the defending champion 76ers, 127-118, last Friday night in the opening game of the best-of-seven series.

John Havlicek, Sam Jones, and Bailey Howell contributed 87 of the team's point total, offsetting a 33-point, 25-rebound performance by Wilt Chamberlain.

The same Celtic trio spurred the Boston comeback in the Detroit series when the squad bounced back from a 2-1 deficit to three straight wins.