BOSTON — As the Celtics were in the midst of their ultimately unsuccessful fourth-quarter comeback Thursday night, Isaiah Thomas was on the bench.
Game 3 was the worst of the playoffs for Thomas, who finished with just five points in 21 minutes in Boston’s 103-95 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden.
“I just thought it was an off night,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “And I thought Evan Turner was terrific in the second half, so just went with that.”
Thomas, who played a mere 3:26 in the final quarter, couldn’t find any sort of rhythm, going 2-for-9 from the floor against a Cavs team that did not afford him unimpeded drives to the rim. Six of his nine field-goal attempts came from outside the paint.
Rough shooting nights are nothing new for the Celtics’ sixth man, but Thomas usually is able to make up for it at the free-throw line. That was not the case Thursday. After attempting 18 free throws between Games 1 and 2 (and making all 18), Thomas got to the line just twice in Game 3.
Thomas’ point and minute totals both were his second-lowest since he joined the Celtics two months ago. His only poorer showing came March 25, when he scored four points in 20 minutes in his return from an eight-game, back injury-induced absence.
“They’re paying him a lot of attention, and for whatever reason he was having an off night,” Stevens said. “But that happens. Guys have off nights, and that’s where we’ve got to pick each other up and be better together.”
Avery Bradley shared that sentiment, saying the Celtics didn’t do enough to help Thomas find his flow.
“He brings a lot to this team, not only his scoring but his leadership,” Bradley said. “He brought his leadership (Thursday night), and he wasn’t able to make shots, but we still have to find a way to get him going. I don’t feel like we did a good job as a team of getting him going, because he is arguably our best scorer.”
The Cavs can clinch a series sweep with a win Sunday in Game 4. For the Celtics to have any chance of sending the series back to Cleveland, another Thomas no-show is not an option.
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
