(Best E Casino) - The defending world champion San Antonio Spurs play the seventh of a season-long nine-game road trip, as they visit the Boston Celtics this afternoon at TD Banknorth Garden.

This is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. San Antonio is scheduled to host the Celtics on March 17th at the AT&T Center.

The teams split a pair of contests last season. San Antonio has won nine straight and 12 of its last 13 at Boston.

San Antonio has won four in a row and is 4-2 on the swing. Tim Duncan scored 21 points and pulled down 14 rebounds and the Spurs erased an 18-point second- half deficit to defeat the New York Knicks, 99-93, in overtime at Madison Square Garden. Manu Ginobili had 20 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, while Michael Finley scored 17, including the game-tying three with less than a second remaining in regulation. San Antonio shot 11-for-21 from three-point range in the victory.

The Spurs, who are 12-11 on the road this season, will visit the Toronto Raptors on Monday at Air Canada Centre and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday at Quicken Loans Arena.

Boston has won two in a row and earned a tough victory on Friday. Leon Powe's putback layup as time expired lifted the Celtics over the Timberwolves, 88-86, in Kevin Garnett's return to Minnesota.

Powe finished with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench for the Celtics, who have won four of their last five games overall. Paul Pierce ended with 18 points and six assists and Allen netted 17 in the victory.

Garnett is currently sidelined with an abdominal strain. He has missed six straight games. The 6-11 Garnett is averaging 19.2 points and a team-best 9.9 rebounds in 41 games this season for the Celtics, who are 4-2 without Garnett in the lineup.

The Celtics are 21-4 at home this season. They will visit the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday at Conseco Fieldhouse.