Celtics @ Knicks Stat Pack

*Going into Tuesday’s game against the Celtics, the Knicks were 5.3 points worse per 100 possessions without Tyson Chandler on the floor.
–Now on Sunday, the Knicks are just 4.0 points worse per 100 possessions without Chandler on the floor.

*Via CSNNE: This is Paul Pierce’s 14^th consecutive season averaging at least 18 points per game.
–Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, and Kobe Bryant have done that.

*The Knicks are close to ending the Celtics’ 5-year reign as Atlantic Division champions.
–The Knicks are on their way to finishing atop the Atlantic Division for the first time since 1993-94 (Pat Riley coached that team to a 57-25 regular season record; lost in NBA Finals that year).

*Via NY Times: With one more victory, the Knicks can claim the season series against the Celtics for the first time in 9 years.
–2003-04: Knicks took 3 of 4 from the Celtics that year.
–Including the playoffs, the Celtics are 30-9 against the Knicks since the beginning of the 2004-05 season.

*The Knicks’ 7-game winning streak coming into Sunday is the longest current winning streak in the NBA as well as the team’s longest this season.

*On Tuesday, the Knicks pushed their winning streak to 5 games, giving the Celtics their 5^th consecutive loss.
–Since that game, both teams have gone 2-0.

*Via Elias: J.R. Smith is the first player with 3 consecutive games of at least 30 points off the bench since Ricky Pierce in 1990.

*The Knicks have 2 of the 4 highest scorers over the last 10 games.
–Carmelo Anthony (2^nd, 29.6 PPG).
–J.R. Smith (4^th, 28.6 PPG).

*The Knicks have 2 of the 17 highest plus/minus players per 100 possessions over the last 10 games.
–Pablo Prigioni (10^th, +16.9).
–Steve Novak (17^th, +13.7).

*Via David Locke: The last NBA player to be drafted first overall and play all 4 years in college is Kenyon Martin.

*The Celtics are now 4-0 this season when making 11+ 3-pointers.
–Boston’s 11 made 3-pointers on Friday tied the team’s most in regulation this season.

*Friday was Jeff Green’s 3^rd-highest scoring performance as a Celtic.
–On Friday, Green showed his aggressiveness as his 20 field goal attempts were his 2^nd-most in a game this season.

*Going into Friday, Shavlik Randolph averaged 14 rebounds per 36 minutes in a Celtics uniform. He is now up to 16 per 36 minutes.
–He became just the 3^rd Celtic reserve in almost 30 years to grab at least 13 rebounds in 22 or fewer minutes (Danny Fortson did it twice in 2000 and Bill Walton once in 1985).
–In addition, Shavlik is the first Celtics bench player in over 10 years to grab at least 7 offensive rebounds in that little of playing time.

*Friday was Paul Pierce’s 9^th career regular-season triple-double. The Celtics are now 9-0 in those games.
–The Celtics also moved to 33-6 in the regular season since 2007-08 when Paul Pierce gets a double-double.

*Via Elias: Paul Pierce’s 20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against the Hawks on Friday night gave the Celtics their league-high 8^th triple-double of the season: 5 by Rajon Rondo and 3 by Pierce.
–Rondo and Pierce are the first pair of NBA teammates each with at least 3 triple- doubles in one season since Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler of the 1995-96 Rockets.

*On Friday, Jason Terry hit 5 three-pointers, tied for his most in a Celtics uniform.
–The other time that he did that was the 5-of-14 performance in triple-OT against Denver.

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Knicks
–For the first time in more than 60 games, the Celtics and Knicks have 2 meetings within 5 days.
–They played on back-to-back days in 1997 (January 10 and 11) – the Knicks won both games.

*Milestone Watch:

–All-Time NBA Three-Pointers Made–
4. Jason Terry 1,903
5. Chauncey Billups 1,813
6. Paul Pierce 1,810                        (Pierce needs 3 to tie Billups for 5^th place)