Thomas lobbies for calls with Celtics-Wizards series tied

WASHINGTON >> Isaiah Thomas feels as though he was shut down by the Washington Wizards and the referees in Game 4.

Thomas said after the Boston Celtics’ 121102 loss Sunday that the officiating needs to change as the second-round series continues after the Wizards played him hard in holding him to two points after the first 15 minutes.

“They were very physical. The refs were allowing them to hold and grab and do all those things,” Thomas said. “It’s got to be called differently . ... I can’t be allowed to be held and grabbed every pin-down, every screen and I don’t even shoot one free throw. I play the same way each and every night. That has to change.”

Thomas acknowledged that the Wizards’ 26-0 third-quarter run was the reason for the result, not the officiating. But with the series returning to Boston for Game 5 on Wednesday, he began to lobby for more calls after not going to the free throw line once.

The 5-foot-9 All-Star guard had 53 points in the Celtics’ Game 2 overtime victory and was bottled up with 13 and 19 in Washington. He started Game 4 shooting 5 for 5 from 3-point territory with 17 points and was held to two more on 1-of-7 shooting the rest of the way.

“They obviously were locked into him the whole game, but obviously more so after the barrage of 3s,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “They were really up into him.”

Being physical was the plan with Thomas, Wizards guard Bradley Beal said. Coach Scott Brooks complimented his big men for keeping their hands up to avoid fouling Thomas, but Beal was more than willing to make contact when necessary.

“Our goal is just take him out of the game and just continue to be physical with him,” Beal said. “He runs around the floor all day, I’ve been chasing him all first half. I just wanted to come in and just be physical with him.”

Raptors’ Lowry will opt out of contract

TORONTO >> Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry will opt out of the final year of his contract and test free agency this summer.

The three-time All-Star has one year and $12 million remaining on the four-year, $48 million deal he signed in July 2014.

Lowry averaged career bests of 22.4 points, 7.0 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game this season but was limited to 60 games because of a right wrist injury that required surgery in February.