The Celtics (47-14) had won 15 of 17 entering a game at Utah on Feb. 19. Kevin Garnett strained his right knee during the 90-85 loss and has not played since as the reigning NBA champions have gone 3-2 without him.

Though the star power forward appears to be making progress, there remains no target date for his return.

"He's moving a little better. He's jogging now," Celtics coach Doc Rivers told the team's official Web site on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, reserve Brian Scalabrine has missed 12 of the last 15 games, including Sunday's 105-95 home loss to Detroit. The Celtics confirmed Tuesday that he's suffering from post-concussion syndrome.

"Looks like he's gonna be out a month," Rivers said of Scalabrine. "I was hoping maybe a week out, but the good news is he'll be back in time for the playoffs. That's a good sign."

Also a good sign for the Celtics is New Jersey (27-33) on the schedule. Boston has defeated the Nets seven straight times since March 3, 2007, by an average margin of more than 16 points. Both victories this season have been blowouts - 118-86 at TD Banknorth Garden on Jan. 14, followed three days later by a 105-85 triumph in New Jersey.

Scalabrine started at center in each of those contests while Kendrick Perkins was sidelined by a strained shoulder. He and Garnett combined for 23 points and 14 rebounds on Jan. 17, but Ray Allen led the Celtics with 25 points.

This will mark the latest return to New Jersey for Stephon Marbury, who posted the two highest scoring averages of his career (22.2 and 23.9) in his two seasons with the Nets from 1999-2001.

Signed by Boston last Friday after being waived by New York, Marbury had eight points in less than 13 minutes off the bench in his Celtics debut, a 104-99 win over Indiana. He crashed to earth in Sunday's loss, though, going scoreless while missing all three of his shots and committing four fouls in just over 12 minutes of action.

Marbury hasn't faced the Nets since the 2006-07 season, when he totaled 45 points in a pair of Knicks losses.

The Nets enter this game having won three of their last four including a 99-95 victory Tuesday at Milwaukee to move within one-half game of the Bucks for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Jarvis Hayes hit his third 3-pointer of the game with 18 seconds left to break a tie, and Brook Lopez had 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead New Jersey.

Stars Vince Carter and Devin Harris went a combined 8-for-34 from the field, but New Jersey got 40 bench points and rallied from eight down in the final 4:02.

"At the time in the season where we need wins, we could've easily folded. I'm just glad to see guys really coming together," said Carter, who finished with 15 points.

Boston returns home following this contest for a pair of weekend games against the East's other division leaders - Cleveland on Friday night and Orlando on Sunday.