TWO MINUTES: The Clippers’ franchise-record 17-game winning streak was buoyed by many factors – a relatively easy schedule, Chris Paul finding a great groove and outstanding energy play from reserve Matt Barnes. But the true bellwether was Blake Griffin’s shooting. Griffin shot 1-of-9 from the field in the home loss to New Orleans on Nov. 26 that immediately preceded the streak. He then made at least half his shots in every game of the streak, shooting 58 percent (131-of-225) overall. And the streak ended Tuesday in Denver, when he was 4-of-11 from the field. For the season, the Clippers are 23-4 when 
Griffin shoots 50 percent or better and 4-4 when he doesn’t. … The Mavericks are an unfathomable 0-7 in overtime this season and have lost 10 straight OT games dating to a March 24 win at Houston, tying the NBA record. All of the losses have come in a 44-game span. … By contrast, the Nets have won their last eight OT games, including Friday’s gift from the Wizards. Washington held an eight-point lead with 1:27 left in the first OT and failed to secure a rebound, leading to Keith Bogans’ 3-pointer; saw Jordan Crawford turn it over and immediately commit a foul, leading to free throws by Gerald Wallace; watched Crawford miss a jumper and throws around a layup by Deron Williams; fouled Brook Lopez, whose foul shots gave the Nets the lead. … Today is the 70th day of the season. The Lakers have been above .500 for one of them. … Brooklyn interim coach P.J. Carlesimo went back to Oklahoma City last week and equaled his win total in that city when his Nets surprised the Thunder. Carlesimo was the coach of Seattle and made the move when the franchise sold the Emerald City a bill of goods and relocated to the Sooner State but went 1-12 before being fired in 2008. Carlesimo was starting the immortal Robert Swift at center, using a skinny second-year player named Kevin Durant at shooting guard and coming off the bench with an unharnessed rookie named Russell Westbrook. He harbors no regrets that the Thunder began to flourish upon his departure. “It’s a team I feel closer to than a lot of other teams,” he said. “Hopefully, we helped KD and Nick (Collison) a little bit and Russell a tiny bit that first year, but I think it’s safe to say they’ve gone on and overcome whatever coaching they got from me.” … In consecutive games against the Grizzlies, Clippers and Timberwolves, Nuggets swingman Andre Iguodala shot a combined 3-of-16 from both the arc and the line. … Much has been made of LeBron James’ season-long streak of games with at least 20 points. However, Rockets guard James Harden has a current streak of 12 games with at least 25 points, which has him pushing monster scorers Elvin Hayes and Moses Malone for the franchise record. “Sometimes guys want that to have that spotlight and want to be the man and some of them can’t handle it,” Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. “Obviously he’s been able to handle it extremely well.” Harden hasn’t had a super-hot touch from the field; he actually is below 50 percent (101-of-210) during the streak. But he is getting it done at the line, where he is averaging 12 free throws per game to boost his points-per-shot ratio to an excellent 1.70 during the streak. He also is averaging better than five assists, an element of his game that 76ers coach Doug Collins believes the Thunder could miss dearly in the postseason. “I think where you’re going to see the value of James Harden is come playoff time,” Collins said. “Because James Harden in so many instances, was their point guard and (Russell) Westbrook scored and (Kevin) Durant. I think that’s when you’ll really see because in the playoffs, you need as many playmakers as possible. Kevin Martin can really score that ball, but he plays off other guys. I think people don’t realize James Harden also last year made more free throws in the fourth quarter than anybody in the NBA.” … When the Spurs held the Nets to five points in the third quarter Monday, they had four players with at least that many in the same period – Tim Duncan (7), Nando de Colo (6), Tony Parker (5) and Kawhi Leonard (5). No one 
scored for Brooklyn besides Deron Williams. … Boston’s customary annual spot at the bottom of the team rebounding stats is being challenged by none other than defending champion Miami. Of greater concern than the Heat’s 38.7 total rebounds (29th) and 8.0 offensive rebounds (30th) – numbers that are mitigated by pace and shooting percentage – are their minus-2.8 rebound differential (23rd) and total rebound percentage of .483 (24th). Just this week, Miami was manhandled on the boards by Chicago (48-28) and Orlando (50-33) and even lost a 47-46 board battle to Dallas, which has the worst differential in the NBA. “It’s killing us, plain and simple,” Chris Bosh said. “Is it scheme? Is it mental? We’d better figure it out.” During his days as coach of the Lakers, Heat majordomo Pat Riley famously said, “No rebounds, no rings.” That ultimately could be the biggest roadblock to Miami’s quest to repeat.
Trivia Answer: Allan Houston in 2002-03. … Happy 43rd Birthday, Todd Day. … After months of getting paid to do nothing, Royce White now wants to rewrite legislation. Maybe he should run for Congress.
Chris Bernucca is the deputy editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.