Thomas lobbies for calls with Celtics-Wizards series tied

The Celtics had plenty in the third – five alone from Thomas – that produced 21 points for what turned into a 42-point quarter for Washington. The team were lucky enough that Oubre’s ejection, as well as Brandon Jennings getting tossed, didn’t hurt their play in Game 3.

With that pace and space, the shots fell – the Rockets even shot 62 percent on the shots contested by the Spurs (according to NBA.com). He scored just two more points the rest of the game and was a spectator as both Wall and Beal caught fire and kept Boston at bay.

The point guard matchup in this series is fantastic, with Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving.

“We played inspired basketball for each other”, Wizards coach Scott Brooks said of the similar surge Sunday. Wall had that good of a two quarter stretch. Part of Washington’s identity, though, is being able to force turnovers and push the pace. It came in early February when LeBron James hit a fadeaway three-pointer, falling into the Wizards’ bench, to send the game to OT. “It’ll be interesting to go back and look at the game and see what we can do”. “That’s why we’re able to get out in transition and get open shots, get open layups”.

For the Celtics, Isaiah Thomas scored 19 to lead the team, followed by Terry Rozier with 16. “He’s a small guy”. How can you make the shot? We just have to better care of those leads we get and play smart basketball down the stretch.

Horford put in a layup for a 48-48 tie and then Marcin Gortat blew a layup at the buzzer as the Wizards closed the half on a 20-6 run to get back in the game. Porter had 18 points. “We’re capable of those type of runs every game”, said Morris, who finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Thomas finished eighth in the National Basketball Association in total free throws attempted this season.

If the Wizards can’t beat the Celtics in Boston, this is all irrelevant.

The game has a scheduled start time of 6.30 p.m. ET and takes place from the Verizon Center.

The Celtics were called for 25 fouls compared to 22 for the Wizards.

The Wizards scored 1.189 points per possession in transition during the regular season, so they’re just about the last team that you can afford careless turnovers against.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were a combined 7 for 29 from the field and 3 for 15 from 3-point range, leaving Durant to lead the Warriors. Thomas had four fouls as he was exploited again on post-ups trying to defend anyone bigger than him. “The refs were allowing them to hold and grab and do all those things”, Thomas said”. But I can’t be allowed to be held and grabbed every pin-down, every screen. He was also one of the sparks defensively in that massive third quarter, and he would finish the game with five steals. Assistant Mike Brown took over as acting coach for Game 3 of the first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Nobody was expecting the Boston Celtics to sweep the Washington Wizards, so heading into game four with a 2-1 lead is a position everyone can be confident about.

Boston flipped the script Sunday. The tension in this series just adds another layer to the confidence winning this builds up, but the Celtics have embraced that environment all season long.

Making his second start in place of injured point guard Kyle Lowry, Cory Joseph had 20 points and 12 assists for Toronto, which lost in six games against Cleveland past year in the Conference Finals.

With tonight’s win, the Wizards now move to 21-5 at home since January 1, including a flawless 4-0 at home during the playoffs. Boston alternated its starting lineup for the fourth time this series by reinserting F Amir Johnson.