Thomas lights up Wizards as Celtics win 3rd straight, 116-91

Posted January 25, 2016 6:00 am

By STEPHEN WHYNO

Boston Celtics center Jared Sullinger (7) passes the ball against Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat, of Poland, (13) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Pint-sized point guard Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points in three quarters, and five other players finished in double figures as the Boston Celtics kept John Wall in check and beat the Washington Wizards 116-91 on Monday night.

The 5-foot-9 Thomas was sinking shots from all over the floor and driving all over the Wizards (20-22) as the Celtics (25-21) won their third straight. He added nine assists and did it all before coach Brad Stevens held him out when the game became lopsided.

Evan Turner had 18 points for the Celtics, who got 13 from Kelly Olynyk and Marcus Smart and 11 from Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder.

Wall had eight points on 3-of-11 shooting. Washington's Otto Porter returned after missing four games with a sore right hip and scored 15.

Even though the Celtics played Sunday night at Philadelphia, they had plenty of jump against the Wizards, who hadn't played in five days because of the blizzard that struck the East Coast. Boston and Washington went back and forth in the first half with 14 lead changes.

But the Celtics turned it up late in the second quarter, scoring on nine of their final 11 possessions to go on a 19-8 run. A fallaway jumper by Thomas in the final seconds with the shot clock running out made it 53-49 Boston at halftime.

Washington's final lead of the game was 49-48, and the Celtics held on in the second half. Thomas, Turner and Bradley provided plenty of offense to fend off a couple of Wizards charges.

Boston's lead ballooned to 14 by the end of the third quarter, and the Celtics cruised from there.

SNOW PROBLEM

With many roads in the city still unplowed and mass transit limited, Verizon Center was about half full with an official attendance of 11,753. One fan who braved the roads to get there was forward Andre Burakovsky of the NHL's Capitals, who had two home games postponed by snow.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Boston swept the season series 4-0. ... The Celtics improved to 8-3 in the second half of back-to-back games this season.

Wizards: G Bradley Beal took a forearm to the face from Smart in the second quarter and did not return. Beal had four points. ... F Drew Gooden entered in the fourth quarter, returning from a three-game absence because of a sore left calf. ... F Nene was assessed a flagrant 1 foul in the fourth quarter for hitting Smart in the face.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Host Denver on Wednesday.

Wizards: At Toronto on Tuesday.

Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) takes a shot against Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) and guard Isaiah Thomas (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards guard John Wall (2) dribbles the ball against Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

Washington Wizards center Nene, of Brazil, (42) is fouled by Boston Celtics center Jared Sullinger (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 25, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) The Associated Press

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