Washington Wizards vs Boston Celtics Box Score on May 02, 2017

The Sports Xchange
May 2, 2017

BOSTON -- Isaiah Thomas capped a career-high 53-point performance with nine points in overtime as the Boston Celtics beat the Washington Wizards 129-119 on Tuesday at TD Garden to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Thomas became only the fourth Celtic ever with a 50-point game in the playoffs. His 53 is the second-highest point total in Celtics playoff history behind John Havlicek (54 points in 1973). Thomas' previous career playoff high was 42 points in last year's first-round series against Atlanta.

He scored a then career-high 52 points against the Miami Heat during the regular season.

Al Horford had 15 points and 12 rebounds, Avery Bradley and Jae Crowder each scored 14, and Terry Rozier was a spark plug off the bench with 12 for Boston.

John Wall finished with 40 points and 13 assists to pace the Wizards. Markieff Morris had 16 points, Marcin Gortat totaled 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Bradley Beal also scored 14.

Washington's Kelly Oubre Jr. sank a 3-pointer to make it 117-114 at the 3:55 mark of overtime, only to have Horford make a cutting finger roll 18 seconds later.

Thomas' floater at 2:48 put Boston up 118-117 and Bradley slammed home a thunderous breakaway dunk at 2:22 after he stripped Wall for the steal.

Thomas' driving layup gave the Celtics their biggest lead at 122-117 with 1:42 on the clock. Oubre's dunk brought Washington within three before Thomas essentially sealed it with his three-point play at 1:07.

Horford added a driving hook and Thomas made a pull-up jumper to cap the win.

Washington went ahead 95-88 with 10:23 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Celtics tied it at 99 with 7:44 to go and again at 110 with 1:38 left.

Wall hit 1 of 2 free throws with 1:04 on the clock to give Washington a one-point lead, but Thomas hit a jumper on the other end to put Boston up 112-111 with 46.9 ticks left.

Porter drilled a corner 3 with 32.6 seconds left to flip the score again for the Wizards, 114-112.

Wall blocked Thomas' offering at the rim with 27 ticks to play, but Boston got the rebound and called a timeout.

Thomas was fouled by Gortat with 14.4 to go and made both free throws to knot the score.

Wall missed a jumper with 1.9 left and Beal's desperation fadeaway was off target to force overtime.

Thomas scored 20 points in the fourth while Wall had just five.

The Wizards extended their 67-64 halftime lead with a 14-0 run early in the third quarter, which Wall capped with a three-point play to make it 81-67 with 7:57 to go in the period.

Boston crept within 89-84 by the end of the third.

Once again, the Wizards were the first team to 16 points -- only this time the Celtics were not held scoreless. Washington opened Game 1 on a 16-0 run.

The Wizards led 16-8 at the first timeout and expanded their advantage to 42-29 by the end of the first quarter.

NOTES: Washington F Markieff Morris started after leaving the series opener in the second quarter with a left ankle sprain. With Morris in the lineup, Boston started F Amir Johnson over F Gerald Green. ... Celtics G Isaiah Thomas underwent a dental procedure to replace a tooth he lost during Game 1 on Monday. He wore a custom mouth guard Tuesday. "He's got a swollen mouth, but they say he's doing well from a recovery standpoint," coach Brad Stevens said. ... Celtics assistant Walter McCarty offered his support for Baltimore Orioles star Adam Jones, who said he was targeted with racial slurs during Tuesday's game at Fenway Park, while also defending Boston. "You should never cross the lines with that. It's unfortunate for our city. I think we've done so much not to be viewed in that light. ... We can't let those guys speak for the city," McCarty said, adding that he never had a similar experience during his playing days. ... The Wizards and Celtics meet in Game 3 Thursday in Washington.