Sefolosha back as Hawks starter

Thabo Sefolosha was expected to return to the starting lineup when the Hawks played the Celtics Monday night. The small forward missed nine straight games with a left groin injury and came off the bench Friday and Sunday.

BOSTON — He said. Then he said.

The feud between the Hawks’ Dennis Schroder and the Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas continued before Monday night’s game with both starting point guards standing by comments regarding trash talk last month.

Schroder said after the Jan. 13 meeting that Thomas invoked his mother when hurling insults.

Thomas denied he said anything about Schroder’s family. Both players reiterated their version of the incident.

“Everybody heard it,” Schroder said following Monday morning’s shootaround. “My family sat courtside too. Thabo (Sefolosha) heard some things. He wasn’t involved in it. It is what it is. We just try to compete. It gets heated in the game.”

Thomas was asked about the rematch with Schroder after the Celtics played at the Pistons on Sunday.

“Man, I’m past that, I’m not worried about that,” Thomas told reporters. “Once he tried to damage my character, saying I talked about his parents or whatever. I’m past that. Not even worried about it.”

Sefolosha said he “can’t recall” exactly what was said between the two players but noted the trash talk went beyond the norm.

“I know they were talking,” Sefolosha said. “I know there was a lot of talk and it was pretty intense . ... It was one of those situations that I’m going to definitely have my teammate’s back.”

The Celtics won the earlier meeting in Atlanta when Thomas scored on a stepback jumper with 2.4 seconds left for a 103-101 victory.

The history between Schroder and Thomas goes back to last season’s playoffs. In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal, Thomas slapped Schroder after scoring a basket. The two had to be separated and were assessed technical fouls.

Thomas’ foul was upgraded to a Flagrant Foul I after league review.

Many in the Hawks organization believed Thomas should have been suspended. The Hawks won the series in six games.

“He’s a great player,” Schroder said. “What he did in the playoffs last year was just not professional. I think nobody wants to see that. But it’s fine. We just try to compete and help our team win the basketball game.”

Schroder realizes he will be on the receiving end from a vociferous Boston crowd.

“It is what it is,” he said. “Probably my whole career when I get here (I will be booed). They are probably pretty mad still that we won in the playoffs last year. It happens.”

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said he won’t have a special conversation with Schroder, so as to not turn this game into SchroderThomas Part III.

“Dennis is a competitive guy, as is Isaiah,” Budenholzer said. “I think they are both more concerned about their teams, what is best for their team. Dennis is going to be ready to compete. I think that is what is most important.”