Thomas scores 25, Celtics get past Heat 112-104

Feb 27, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas (4) lays the ball in the basket past the reach of Miami Heat center Hassan Whiteside (21) during the second half at TD Garden. But he lives in the paint.

Dieng’s screen on Thomas, and the fiery guard’s reaction, woke the Celtics up in the second half and helped spark a rally from 13 points down to start the fourth quarter to a 99-93 victory.

As for the limited criticism that surfaced on the web about Horford’s decision to miss game action, the 30-year-old preferred not to get caught up in that conversation. Dragic (left elbow) returned from a two-game absence, though he still has some pain.

The Celtics have been the team that’s one star away, but even before landing Horford they’ve put together a core group that can be a perennial playoff team in the East. Isaiah Thomas is the team’s sparkplug at point guard. Wayne Ellington made his long-awaited debut by playing 26 minutes and scoring nine points, after only being expected to see about 15 minutes worth of action.

Smart seemed frustrated after the game, but the irony is that the Heat’s Hack-A-Smart strategy was a retaliation of sorts to Smart frustrating them the entire game.

According to CBS Sports, Miami Heat sophomore Justise Winslow were ruled out to play against the Celtics due to a sprained left wrist. There isn’t much difference in Whiteside’s point production, but he is a more efficient player with Dragic running the offense.

The Heat tied a season low for a quarter with 12 points in the second, going into halftime down 48-31. He got it tended to during the between-periods break and started the second quarter. “We have so many times we’re not focused enough”. During those final desperate moments, the closest that Miami could get was that final eight-point margin.

“We took what the defense gave us”. But with under three minutes to go in an 11-point game, it seemed a little bush league to me. A few more of these and the Heat could recoup at least one of those first-round picks spent on Goran, and possibly more.

NOTES: Heat SGs Dion Waiters (groin) and Tyler Johnson (dental surgery) missed their first games of the season. “I know it meant a lot to her for me to be there”.

Michael Felger of CSNNE was the guy who publically chastised Horford for missing the 17th game of the Celtics’ season where they faced off against the Miami Heat who boasted a 5-11 record at the time. But the Pistons know very well how big Horford’s return has been for Boston: he’s the one who beat them at the buzzer two weeks ago in Detroit. Celtics G Isaiah Thomas entered Monday ranked ninth in the National Basketball Association in scoring (26.1). Boston dropped its most recent game to the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night, 109-103 at home.