The Celtics also defeated the Atlanta Hawks 111-103 on this day in 2016 behind a then-career high 42 points from point guard Isaiah Thomas.
The win gave Boston its first win of the series, dropping the first two to Atlanta. Wing Evan Turner added 17 points, 7 assists and 5 steals, and forward Amir Johnson 15 points and 7 boards.
Reserve guard Marcus Smart added 11 points and 5 assists off the bench.
“I was just in attack mode,” Thomas said via the A.P. “I was just trying to do what I could to win the game.”
With that performance, Thomas joined an elite group of players who have scored more than 40 points in a playoff game for Boston.
Only Ray Allen, Larry Bird, John Havlicek, Sam Jones, Reggie Lewis, Paul Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Jo Jo White have accomplished such a feat.
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