Thomas ties mark as Celtics defeat Sixers

Thomas scored the final 13 points of the second quarter as the Celtics grabbed a 58-52 halftime lead.

After the team’s shootaround Thursday morning, it was revealed that Jimmy Butler will play for the second straight game, and that he will have “no restrictions” following a battle with a nagging heel injury. “Any contact to a shooter’s hand, arm, or wrist prior to the release of the shot is considered a foul”.

Butler tried to be the hero with a falling off-target fadeaway jumper, Marcus Smart maybe nearly grazed his elbow with his fingers, and the refs called the foul, incensing everyone on the Celtics (for good reason). It was a very questionable foul call from the refs. That and a late 10-0 spurt allowed the Celtics to escape with a 116-108 victory over Philadelphia, ending the 76ers’ three-game winning streak. “Bad call cost us a game, cost us a game. It’s going to propel us to the second half of the season, which our team really needs”, Portis said. “And as soon as he said that, the whistle blew, and I looked and I saw [the referee] raise his hand for the foul”.

Still, anytime you lose a game in this manner, it’s beyond frustrating. Smart has not only started to distinguish himself with improved point guard play but has helped fill the void left by Evan Turner’s departure this summer.

Once the final buzzer sounded, all of the attention was on Smart’s foul of Butler.

“Horrible call”, Isaiah Thomas told reporters after the loss.

As far as the Bird record, he said: “It would mean a lot especially with such great players that played before me”.

“I’m one of the best defenders in this league”. Bradley, who is averaging 17.7 points, hasn’t played in a month because of a sore right Achilles. I moved my feet, I did everything right, my head was up.

Wade, along with guard Rajon Rondo, has served as a mentor to younger players like rookie Denzel Valentine, who, like other reserves, has seen increased playing time while Wade, Nikola Mirotic, Jimmy Butler and Paul Zipser have worked through injuries. In some ways, Chicago might be better when Butler is the lone ball handler on the floor.

“He got a piece of the elbow”, Butler said. But coaches always say a defensive possession doesn’t end until you secure the ball, and the Celtics didn’t end with the ball enough.