Celtics sit on Eastern summit
BOSTON — Isaiah Thomas was able to watch from the bench while the Celtics finished off the Milwaukee Bucks in Wednesday’s NBA regularseason finale.
The Boston star got a little bit of rest — and the No 1 seed he wanted, too.
“It’s very special for me,” Thomas said after scoring 13 points and adding eight assists in a 112-94 victory over the resting Bucks.
“I’ve never been a No 1 seed. I’m excited now ... but once you get into the playoffs, the seedings go out the window.”
Gerald Green scored 18 points, 10 of them in a 25-2 fourth-quarter run that put the game away.
Earlier, Cleveland lost its finale against Toronto to guarantee Boston home-court advantage through the Eastern Conference final.
The Chicago Bulls victory over Brooklyn gave them the eighth seed and a first-round matchup against the Celtics.
The best-of-seven series opens on Sunday night.
The Bucks were already locked into the sixth seed and a first-round matchup with Toronto, allowing them to rest Giannis Antetokounmpo, Tony Snell and Matthew Dellavedova.
Spencer Hawes had 15 points in 17 minutes, and Michael Beasley also scored 15 for Milwaukee.
“For three quarters, it was a game. But fatigue got us a little bit,” said Bucks coach Jason Kidd, who was pleased to come out of it without any injuries. “Now we have to turn the page and get ready for the Raptors.”
The Celtics, who haven’t won a playoff series since 2012, finished the season with a threegame winning streak while Cleveland lost its last four.
The defending NBA champions opted not to push for the top seed, resting LeBron James for the last two games.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he noticed the Cleveland score at halftime and decided he would try to get his starters some rest.
“And then I just said, basically, ‘Let me know if it gets close,’” he said. “But that wasn’t the deciding factor in any moves.”
Late run
The Bucks led by as many as 13 before Boston ran off 14 of the last 16 points in the first half. Thomas, who was scoreless until then, had 10 of them, including eight straight.
But Thomas was on the bench with eight minutes left in the fourth, with the Celtics trailing 88-87.
Green and Avery Bradley had back-to-back dunks, then Kelly Olynyk made a 3-pointer. After a basket by Gary Payton II, the Celtics ran off the next 18 points.
Trainer’s room
Malcom Brogdon scored 11 points in 24 minutes in his return from a five-game absence due to back soreness. Afterward, he said he was “100 percent”.
“I think it’s going to help me during the playoffs,” he said. “I was able to get my rhythm back tonight.”
Praying
Bradley came off the floor shaking his hand in the third quarter.
“I’m just knocking on wood and praying I’m healthy so I can have good playoff series,” he said. So is Stevens.
“Seeing Avery shake his hand gave him a bit of a scare,” said the coach.