2/3/12: Celtics vs. Clippers Stat Pack

*The Celtics have a margin of victory of 4.12 points per game this season at home.
–However, on the road, opponents are outscoring them by 6.24 points per game.

*Coming into Sunday, Paul Pierce has recorded double-digit rebounds in 3 consecutive games for only the 5^th time in his regular season career.
–Pierce has tied Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo for the longest streak of at least 10 rebounds by a Celtic this season.
–Pierce hopes to make it 4 consecutive games, which would tie his longest career run of double-digit rebounds when he did it in 2002.
–Via Elias: In each of Pierce’s 3 games with at least 10 rebounds, not one came on the offensive end. Since the NBA began recording offensive rebounds in 1973, the only other player to do this in 3 consecutive games was Troy Murphy of the Pacers in March 2009.

*Via Elias: 3 Celtics came off the bench to score at least 12 points in Boston’s 97-84 victory over Orlando (Jeff Green 17, Jason Terry 12 and Leandro Barbosa 12).
–It was the 4^th time since New Year’s Day that 3 Celtics substitutes scored at least 12 in a game.
–In the previous 4 calendar years (2009-12), that happened only once (January 12, 2011 vs. Sacramento).

*The Los Angeles Clippers are 2-5 in their last 7 games, 6 of which were without Chris Paul, and are 5-4 overall this season without him.
–Chris Paul will miss his 7^th straight game Sunday.

*During the 2012-13 season, the Clippers are an astounding 11.8 points worse per 100 offensive possessions without Chris Paul on the court. The Clippers’ defense is 3.9 points per 100 possessions better without Paul.
–Chris Paul: 1306 minutes played this season.
–The Clippers have played 1003 minutes without him in 2012-13.

*The Spurs and Clippers are the only 2 teams in the NBA to be in the Top 5 in both offensive and defensive efficiency this season.

*In the absence of Chris Paul on Friday against the Raptors, Eric Bledsoe shot 4-for-14 overall (0-for-3 from 3-point), Willie Green shot 1-for-5 overall (0-for-4 from 3-point) and Jamal Crawford, who broke his nose, shot 5-for-17 overall (1-for-7 from 3-point).
–Crawford’s 29% field goal shooting on Friday was his worst for any game this season when attempting at least 15 shots.
–Via @ESPNStatsInfo: Clippers guards Bledsoe and Green were a combined 0-for-8 from the field and scored 0 points in the 1^st half on Friday vs. Raptors.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Clippers
–Even without Chris Paul, the Clippers have been a tough foe for the Celtics in the Kevin Garnett era.
–The Celtics are only 6-4 against the Clippers since 2007-08. Chris Paul has played in only 2 of those games (1-1 record).

*Milestone Watch:

–Celtics History: All-Time Blocked Shots–
7. Reggie Lewis 417
T-8. Cedric Maxwell 378
T-8. Kevin Garnett 378                        (Garnett needs 1 to move into sole possession of 8^th place)

–All-Time NBA Three-Pointers Made–
5. Chauncey Billups 1,787
6. Peja Stojakovic 1,760
7. Paul Pierce 1,757                        (Pierce needs 4 to move into 6^th place)

–All-Time NBA Steals–
16. Magic Johnson 1,724
17. Ron Harper 1,716
18. Kevin Garnett 1,715            (Garnett needs 1 to tie Harper for 17^th place)