(My Sportsbook) - The Washington Wizards are anxious to put a disastrous season behind them and will finish up things against the defending NBA champion Celtics in Boston on Wednesday.

The Wizards have already gotten started on the 2009-2010 season, reportedly reaching an agreement with Flip Saunders to become the team's next head coach.

According to Yahoo! Sports, the sides reached a verbal agreement on a four- year, $18 million contract. However, the report also indicated the deal won't be official until Saunders signs a contract and returns it to the team.

The Wizards are currently guided by interim head coach Ed Tapscott, who took over when Eddie Jordan was fired early this season, after Washington had started 1-10. At the time of his appointment, Tapscott was the club's director of player development.

Washington is 19-62 after losing to Toronto on Monday, and has the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

Saunders last coached Detroit, from the 2005-06 season to 2007-08. The Pistons reached the East finals in each of Saunders' three seasons as coach, losing each time.

Saunders was also the coach of Minnesota from 1995-96 to 2004-05. In his 13 seasons with the Timberwolves and Pistons, Saunders has a 587-396 record.

Chris Bosh scored 25 and hit a three-pointer with under 10 seconds left, and grabbed 15 rebounds on Monday to lead Toronto past Washington, 97-96, at Verizon Center on Monday.

Washington, which was playing its final home game of the year, was paced by Caron Butler, who scored 28 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Antawn Jamison ended with 23 points and seven rebounds for the Wizards and JaVale McGee had 10 points and seven boards off the bench in defeat.

The Celtics, meanwhile, swept the season series against their long time rival and possible first round playoff foe, the Philadelphia 76ers, on Tuesday. Paul Pierce sank a season-high seven three-pointers en route to 31 points on that one as Boston handed the reeling 76ers a 100-98 loss.

Tony Allen scored 18 and Glen Davis had 15 points for Boston, which was coming off its worst loss of the season on Sunday, a 107-76 drubbing at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Rajon Rondo had 11 points and seven rebounds while Kendrick Perkins brought down 12 boards and blocked four shots in the win.

Forward Kevin Garnett missed the contest with his balky right knee. The All- Star has sat out 22 of Boston's last 26 games with the problem and coach Doc Rivers decided Monday that Garnett would sit the remainder of the regular season as a precaution.

Fellow All-Star Ray Allen was suspended for Tuesday's game by the NBA after he elbowed Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao in the groin on Sunday and should return for the season finale tonight.

The Celtics, who are 34-6 at home, have already clinched the second seed in the East and the Sixers fell a game back of sixth-seeded Chicago with just one to play. Philadelphia would need a win in Cleveland on Wednesday and a Chicago loss at home versus the Raptors to avoid facing Boston in the first round.

Boston has routed Washington in prior meetings this season, including a 108-83 drubbing in Beantown on January 2.