Thomas' 34 points guide Celtics past Blazers
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Isaiah Thomas bombed in 34 points, and the Boston Celtics scored 43 fourth-quarter points en route to a 120-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night at Moda Center.
Thomas scored 32 of his points after the first quarter to lead seven Celtics in double-figure scoring. Marcus Smart had 18 points and Jaylen Brown 14 for Boston, which won for the eighth time in nine games.
Damian Lillard scored 28 points and Al-Farouq Aminu added a season-high 26 for the Trail Blazers, who lost for the third time in four games.
Lillard scored 15 points and Aminu had 13 to stake Portland to a 55-49 lead at halftime. The Blazers shot 51.4 percent before the break. However, Thomas scored 14 second-quarter points, seven of them in a late run that cut into what was once a 17-point deficit.
Boston (34-19) outscored Portland 10-2 to start the third quarter and take a 59-57 advantage. The Celtics were on top 77-76 heading into the final period.
Thomas' three-point play gave Boston a 92-88 edge with 7:36 remaining. The Celtics kept the lead at two to four points until Smart's rebound basket made it 110-104 with 1:39 to play.
Brown padded the lead to 112-104 on a pair of free throws with 1:12 to go.
Thomas' driving layup increased the margin to 114-104 with 57.2 seconds remaining.
Portland's Allen Crabbe buried a 3-pointer to cut it to 114-107 with 47.1 seconds remaining, but Thomas followed with a pair at the line, and it was 116-107 with 46.1 seconds left.
Lillard scored on a layup, but Smart converted a layup at the other end, and it was over.
The Blazers (23-31) jumped to a 24-14 lead and carried a 32-22 advantage into the second quarter.
NOTES: Portland F Evan Turner missed his first game since breaking the third metacarpal bone in his right hand in Tuesday's win over Dallas. The injury is expected to keep him out of action for five to six weeks. Moe Harkless started in Turner's place and scored four points. ... Boston F Jae Crowder missed the game to tend to family health issues in Dallas. Marcus Smart started in Crowder's absence. The Celtics are uncertain if Crowder will be able to rejoin them in Utah for their Saturday game. "It's whatever (time) he needs," coach Brad Stevens said. ... Stevens, on Boston's 108-92 loss at Sacramento on Wednesday despite the Kings missing suspended C DeMarcus Cousins: "(The Kings) were the best team on that night. That's basketball. The game starts 0-0. If we don't play well, we get beat. We're not good enough not to play well and still win, and we know that. We're not as good as our record."