Celtics at Cavaliers Stat Pack

 

*The Celtics enter Saturday on a 13-game road losing streak, which matches their longest road losing streak in franchise history (February to April 1979).

*The Celtics and Cavaliers own 2 of the 8 worst point differentials this season.

--Cleveland’s positive 5.7 point differential over the team’s last 3 games is the 5^th-best in the league.

*The last time the Celtics faced the Cavaliers was December 28, 2013: heading into that contest, there were 161 different 30-point performances in the NBA this season, and none of them were against the Celtics.

--The 162^nd one was Kyrie Irving’s 7^th one of the season, and the first one against the Celtics this season. Irving has had just 3 such performances in 2014.

--Irving is 1 of 15 players to score at least 30 points in 10 or more games this season.

*On Friday, Phil Pressey dished off a career-high 13 assists.

--Only twice in his college career did he have that many assists.

--In Phil Pressey’s 70^th career NBA game (Saturday at Detroit), he registered his first double-double. On Friday, he posted his 2^nd one.

--In addition, on Friday, Pressey stole the ball 3 times for the first time in a home game as an NBA player.

*3^rd-quarter margin is important: the Celtics are the 6^th-worst team in the NBA in this category, but they have been fantastic very recently. The Celtics are the 4^th-best team in the last 3 games in 3^rd-quarter margin.

--In 2007-08, the champion Celtics were the best 3^rd-quarter team.

--In 2008-09, the Celtics were the 2^nd-best 3^rd-quarter team. The champion Lakers were the best.

--In 2012-13, Miami was the best team in the category and won the championship.

*Al Jefferson made 16 field goal on Friday, his most ever against the Celtics. It was also the most field goal makes against the Celtics in a game this season.

--The last time a player made at least 16 field goals against the Celtics: LeBron James on March 18, 2013

--It was an odd night for Jefferson: the last player to score at least 30 points without a free throw attempt against the Celtics in the regular season: Derek Harper (February 28, 1990).

*Recent Meetings: Celtics vs. Cavaliers

--The Celtics have taken 4 of their last 5 games in Cleveland.