Celtics pregame notes: Defensive rating key vs. Warriors

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BOSTON – We’re minutes away from tip-off between the Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, a game where the still-undefeated Warriors (23-0) are once again overwhelming favorites.

They face a Celtics (13-9) squad that has won its last four games at the TD Garden, and six of their last eight games overall.

Here are some additional notes leading up to tonight’s game, courtesy of NBA statistician Dick Lipe.

- The Celtics are 12-1 when their defensive rating is less than 100, and are 1-8 in all other games. Golden State’s opponents have had a defensive rating of at least 103 in all their games this season.

- Collectively, the Celtics have shot at least 40 percent on 3s in their last four games.

- Since Marcus Smart has been injured and Avery Bradley was re-inserted into the starting lineup, the Celtics bench scoring has dipped to 33.6 points per game which ranks 17th in the league which is down from their league-leading 46.8 points per game average prior to the Smart injury.

- The NBA’s top six players in offensive rating all play for the Golden State Warriors. They include: Andre Iguodala (118.8); Stephen Curry (118.1); Draymond Green (118.0); Festus Ezeli (117.2); Klay Thompson (116.8) and Harrison Barnes (116.1).

- At 13-0, Golden State has the best start on the road in NBA history, one game better than the 12-0 start by the New York Knicks during the 1969-1970 season.

- Among players with at least one 3-pointer made per game, Avery Bradley is shooting a league-best 50.7 on top-of-the-break 3s.

- Jared Sullinger has double digit rebounds in 11 of Boston’s last 19 games.

- Sullinger ranks fourth in NBA in rebound percentage at 21.1. The only players ahead of him are Detroit’s Andre Drummond, Oklahoma City’s Enes Kanter and Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan.

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