Celtics lock up division title, inch closer to top seed with victory

BOSTON — The Celtics now control their own fate in their quest to secure the Eastern Conference’s top playoff seed.

Isaiah Thomas scored 27 points to help Boston beat back a fourth-quarter charge and defeat the Brooklyn Nets 114-105 on Monday night.

The win clinched the Atlantic Division title and no worse than the No. 2 seed for the Celtics. More importantly, with Cleveland’s overtime loss at Miami on Monday night, a Boston win in its regular-season finale against Milwaukee on Wednesday would give the Celtics the No. 1 seed.

But if Boston loses to the Bucks and Cleveland wins its finale against Toronto, the Cavs would own the tiebreaker by virtue of their 3-1 head-to-head record with Boston. Thomas said being this position “means a lot.” “It says a lot about this team,” Thomas said. “We’ve been through ups and downs . ... We just kept going.”

After Monday’s win several players gathered in the trainer’s room to watch the end of Cleveland’s game with Miami. When the Cavs tied it late in OT on Deron Williams’ 3 before he completed four-point play to put them up one, screams could be heard from inside. Clapping was heard again from the same room when the Heat finished their victory, cementing the Celtics’ chance to claim top seed Wednesday.

Al Horford added 19 points and eight rebounds. Avery Bradley finished with 18 points and five rebounds.