No team in the NBA is hotter at the moment than the Boston Celtics, winners of nine straight games.
Their latest triumph, a 135-87 demolition of the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, marked their fifth straight win away from TD Garden.
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But after beating the New Orleans Pelicans and Detroit Pistons by 10 and 9 points, respectively, the Celtics have found another level in road contests against the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets and Sixers. According to ESPN Stats & Info, Boston is the first team in the 75-year history of the NBA to win three straight road games by 30 points or more.
The Celtics, who've been around for all 75 of those seasons, beat the Magic, 116-83, on Feb. 6 at the Amway Center and the Nets, 126-91, two nights later at the Barclays Center.
True, Orlando has the worst record in the league and Brooklyn was as cold (12 straight losses prior to Tuesday) as the Celtics are hot, but what is Philadelphia's excuse? James Harden isn't in the lineup yet for the Sixers, but Ben Simmons hadn't played a game for them this season, either, and they are still ahead of Boston in the Eastern Conference standings.
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The Celtics also beat the Miami Heat by 30 points at home, 122-92, earlier on during the winning streak and just prior to the beginning of the current streak, took their largest lead in franchise history at 60 points over the Sacramento Kings in a game they'd go on to win, 128-75.
Despite its winning ways, Boston remains one game under .500 on the road (14-15) for the season. Its next contest away from TD Garden is on Feb. 24 in its first game out of the All-Star break in Brooklyn.