Matt Barnes has a strong seven-game stretch for Clippers

Before Monday’s three-point performance on one for five shooting against the Boston Celtics, Matt Barnes had a stretch of seven games during which he played very well.

During that stretch, Barnes averaged 15.7 points a game, well above his season average of 9.8 points.

The Clippers have struggled with the small forward position all season, but when Barnes is playing well, the Clippers have one of the best starting lineups in the league.

“It’s great, it’s great for our entire team,” Blake Griffin said. “When he’s playing like that, his aggressiveness alone is great for us, but when he’s making shots like that, taking shots, making big stops, guarding whoever it is from the other team, it’s huge for us and it takes a lot of pressure off of all of us.”

In Saturday’s win over the Sacramento Kings, Barnes tied his season-high with 26 points, scoring 22 of them in the first half. He also had 10 rebounds.

During the seven-game stretch from Jan. 5 through Saturday, Barnes has scored in double figures in six of those games, and had three games in which he grabbed seven or more rebounds.

The Clippers won four of their seven games in that period.