Perhaps facing some divisional competition is just what the New Jersey Nets need to snap their six-game losing streak.
Neither the Nets nor the Boston Celtics are playing very well, but the winner of Wednesday's matchup at TD Banknorth Garden will emerge with at least a share of the lead in a weak Atlantic Division.
Oddsmakers have the Nets listed as 3-point underdogs and the total set at 195 1/2.
New Jersey's (5-9) longest losing skid since dropping nine straight from Nov. 10-28, 2004, has enabled Boston (5-8) to take a one-half game lead in the Atlantic. Toronto and Philadelphia are tied with the Nets with identical 5-9 marks, while last-place New York is 5-11 and trails the Celtics by only 1 1-2 games.
The other five division leaders in the NBA all have at least nine wins.
The Nets fell behind the Charlotte Bobcats by 14 points early in Tuesday's game at Continental Airlines Arena, and could not fully erase the deficit as they fell 96-92 for their sixth consecutive defeat.
''We want to be hungry for a win,'' Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. ''We didn't buy into what it takes to win. We did it for a half, this time the second. We are not getting the job done.''
New Jersey outscored Charlotte 43-37 after halftime and attempted 46 free throws to just 25 for the Bobcats, but the rally came up short. Richard Jefferson led New Jersey with a season-high 27 points, Vince Carter added 25 and Nenad Krstic had 20.
''They played harder, they played more aggressively,'' Jefferson said. ''We picked it up in the second half but we have been struggling with inconsistent play all year.''
The Celtics have also lacked consistency as their roster with 10 players age 24 and younger tries to gel. However, they have won four of six to take the division lead after opening the season 1-6.
Boston overcame a 14-point halftime deficit Sunday at Milwaukee, outscoring the Bucks 65-38 after the break en route to a 111-98 victory. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 34 points, 16 of them in the pivotal third quarter.
Wally Szczerbiak added 21 points for Boston, and Ryan Gomes had 15 along with eight rebounds.
''When you win, you gain confidence,'' said Pierce, a nine-year veteran and the only current Celtic who was on the team prior to 2003-04. ''You try not to get overconfident. I keep telling those guys it's a long season.''
Pierce is averaging 27.2 points, which would be a career high if he sustains it over the full season. Szczerbiak is second on the team with 19.8 points per game, which would also be a career high for the eight-year veteran swingman who averaged 19.0 points last season with Boston and Minnesota.
The Nets took the last three meetings in the four-game, 2005-06 season series between these clubs. Three of the four games were decided by five points or fewer.