Thomas nets 53 to lift Celtics

ISAIAH Thomas scored 53 points — the second-highest total in Celtics playoff history — to help Boston beat the Wizards, 129-119, in overtime on Tuesday night and take a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Thomas missed John Havlicek’s team record by one point.

Stephen Curry led a balanced attack with 22 points and the Warriors beat Utah, 106-94, in their series opener.

SOX-O’S FEUD ESCALATES

Moments after Chris Sale joined Fenway Park fans in a show of respect of Adam Jones, the Boston ace escalated the feud with Baltimore star Manny Machado. Sale stepped off the mound to let a standing ovation build in the first inning Tuesday night as Jones approached the plate, a day after he was racially taunted at the ballpark. But when Machado came up next, Sale threw a pitch behind his legs. After the Red Sox won 5-2, Machado was irate — and Sale unapologetic. “I lost my respect for that organization, Boston and how they’re handling that whole situation,” Machado said in an expletive-filled rant. “If they’re going to hit me, hit me. Go ahead. Get it over with.”

Penguins star Sidney Crosby is out for tonight’s Game 4 against the Capitals while recovering from yet another concussion, this one coming from a cross-check in the head by Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen in the first period of Washington’s 3-2 overtime victory on Monday night.

James Neal scored the game-winning goal with 6:57 left, and the Predators beat the visiting Blues, 2-1, to take a 3-1 lead in their semifinal series.

EX-SJU STAR WALKER DIES

Solly Walker, a St. John’s basketball star in the 1950s and the school’s first black player, has died. He was 85. Walker played at St. John’s from 1951-54. In his first year, he helped lead St. John’s to the NCAA championship game, the first of the school’s two Final Four appearances. In his last year, he averaged 14.0 points and 12.2 rebounds, both team highs.