Nicolas Batum vs. Jeff Gree
Only four NBA players have tallied at least four triple-doubles over the past two seasons: Rajon Rondo (5), Kevin Durant (4), LeBron James (4) and Nicolas Batum (4). Portland’s do-it-all small forward posted his fourth career triple-double, and second this season, in the team’s last game vs. Orlando on Wednesday. Big nights like that one have led Batum to career highs so far this year in both rebounds (6.7) and assists (5.7), to go along with his 13.4 points per contest. He ranks among the team’s top three players in rebounds, assists, 3-pointers, steals, blocks and minutes in his sixth NBA season, all with the Trail Blazers. Boston’s Jeff Green joins Batum in the sixth-year player category, though his NBA journey made stops in Seattle/Oklahoma City before his Boston arrival in 2011. A consistent performer throughout his career, Green has become one of his team’s most relied-upon players in 2013-14 as he leads the Celtics in both scoring (16.1) and minutes played (33.2). And Portland will need to defend the 3-point arc against him, as Green is shooting 43.9% from behind the line away from the friendly confines of Boston’s TD Garden.
Nicolas Batum
• Averaging career highs in rebounds (6.7) and assists (5.7) so far this season
• Recorded his second triple-double of the season in Portland’s last game, Wednesday vs. Orlando
• One of only five players with at least four career triple-doubles with Portland (Drexler, Porter, Wicks, Walton)
Jeff Green
• Leading the Celtics in scoring (16.1) and minutes (33.2) so far this season
• Grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds in each of his past two games coming into tonight
• Shooting 43.9% from 3-point range on the road this season, compared to just 33.8% at home