Thomas leads Celtics past Hornets
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Isaiah Thomas scored 32 points, and the Boston Celtics completed a four-game season sweep of the Charlotte Hornets with a 121-114 victory Saturday night at the Spectrum Center.
The Celtics rolled to a 17-point halftime lead and led by 19 in the third quarter, but blew the entire lead and had to rally from a seven-point deficit in the fourth. Thomas scored seven straight Boston points, including a 3-pointer to make it 116-111 with 1:22 remaining, in the decisive stretch.
Boston (51-29) climbed within one-half game of Cleveland for first place in the Eastern Conference, although the Cavaliers would hold the tiebreaker advantage. The Hornets (36-44) were officially eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Hornets coach Steve Clifford picked up two technical fouls and was ejected in the second quarter, with the second technical coming with 1:09 remaining in the half and the Celtics leading 62-51. It was the first ejection of Clifford's career. Stephen Silas coached the Hornets the rest of the way.
The Celtics shot 51.7 percent from the field and hit 17 3-pointers.
Al Horford scored 16 points, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder scored 15 each, Kelly Olynyk had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Jaylen Brown scored 10.
Nicolas Batum led the Hornets with 31 points and eight rebounds. Kemba Walker scored 23, Jeremy Lamb 17 and Cody Zeller had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Boston led 32-28 after one quarter even though the Hornets scored the first seven points of the game. Boston led 71-54 at halftime, and 92-86 after three quarters.
Charlotte fought back to lead 104-97 on Marvin Williams' 3-pointer with 6:38 left, but the Celtics responded by scoring nine straight to retake the lead going into the final four minutes.
Notes: The Celtics won 104-98 in Charlotte on Oct. 29, 96-88 in Boston on Dec. 16, and 108-98 in Boston on Jan. 16. Boston has won six straight in the series. ... The Celtics were without F Amir Johnson (illness) and F James Young (illness). ... The Hornets were without F Johnny O'Bryant (ankle) and G Marco Belinelli (finger). ... Celtics G Isaiah Thomas will likely end the season with the second-highest scoring average in franchise history. He scored 32 points Saturday and came into the game averaging 29.1, just a fraction below Larry Bird's franchise record of 29.9 in 1987-88. ... The Celtics will return home to face Brooklyn on Monday and then will close out the regular season at home against Milwaukee on Wednesday. ... The Hornets will close out the season with games at Milwaukee on Monday and at Atlanta on Tuesday.