Thomas scores 28 as Celtics beat Suns 102-99
Isaiah Thomas scored 28 points (15 in the third quarter), and the Boston Celtics held off the Phoenix Suns 102-99 for their fourth straight win.
The Celtics took control with a 26-11 run in the first quarter and led by as many as 21. The Celtics led 55-34 with 3:11 left in the second quarter, and the Suns got within 100-99 with 15 seconds left.
The Suns got within 100-99 on Devin Booker’s putback with 15 seconds to play, but Thomas answered with a free throw, and the Suns got no closer. They had the ball down 2 with 13 seconds left, but Evan Turner blocked Booker’s 8-foot jumper, lifting the Celtics’ chance to win from 86% to 92%. It would have tied the game.
During clutch time, the teams each scored 6. Booker scored 4 of the Suns’ 6 on 2 for 5 shooting.
Kelly Olynyk scored 16 points (10 in the paint) on 7 for 10 shooting off the bench.
For the Suns, Booker scored 21 points, and Mirza Teletovic went 1 for 7 from 3.
The Suns gave up 17 offensive rebounds, about 6 more than usual for the shots the Celtics missed. The Suns outscored the Celtics 37-22 in 13 minutes with Tucker, Knight, Teletovic, Len and Booker on the floor together.