Boston Celtics in San Antonio against the Spurs tonight

UNDATED -- The Boston Celtics face the NBA's defending champions on the second leg of their five-game road trip in San Antonio tonight.

The NBA leaders seek their sixth consecutive road win against the San Antonio Spurs, who have lost three straight.

Boston -- whose record stands at 53-and-12 -- has already clinched the Atlantic Division and has a 4 1/2-game lead atop the NBA, but the Celtics haven't been to the NBA Finals since 1987.

A win over the Spurs -- who've won four NBA titles in the last nine seasons -- would help strengthen Boston's status as a title contender.

The rest of the road trip is just as challenging.

The swing, which started with a 99-77 win over Milwaukee on Saturday, concludes with four games in six days against Western Conference contenders.

Boston plays at Houston -- which has won 22 straight -- tomorrow before traveling to Dallas and New Orleans.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)