INDIANAPOLIS — Isaiah Thomas fought through an off-shooting night, then came through for the Boston Celtics when it mattered most.

Thomas scored 23 points, including Boston’s final eight, to lead the visiting Celtics past the Indiana Pacers 105-99 on Saturday night.

“Isaiah did a lot for our team tonight even though he wasn’t shooting well,” Avery Bradley said of his teammate’s 12-point fourth quarter. “That’s what the game is all about, the fourth quarter.”

Thomas had just four points through 34 minutes before scoring 19 over the final 14 minutes. He hit several clutch shots to keep Indiana at bay and sealed the win at the foul line in the final 30 seconds.

With all-star Paul George sitting out the game because of a sprained left ankle, the Pacers needed the help Thomas was affording them. After starting hot, the Pacers looked as if they wouldn’t miss their leading scorer.

In the first half, Indiana was crisp on offense, moving the ball, spacing the floor and getting the shots they wanted. But after halftime, they cooled off from the field and looked scattered at times on both ends of the floor.

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Boston lingered, and all they needed was Thomas to get involved.

With his team struggling to seize control of a tight contest, Thomas surged in the fourth quarter. Boston was nursing a 91-89 lead with 4:04 left before Thomas calmly hit a floater in the lane. After Monta Ellis hit a free throw to pull Indiana within 97-94 with 1:31 left, Thomas hit a pair of free throws, scored on a fast-break layup with a minute left, and then added four free throws to seal Boston’s second road win of the year.

Pacers Coach Nate McMillan said his team didn’t challenge Boston in the final minutes to play to Indiana’s strengths.

“We want to make teams defend, get to our second, third, fourth option,” McMillan said. “You don’t win games when you don’t make plays down the stretch.”

Kelly Olynyk scored 16 points for the Celtics, who were playing the first of two straight road games. Amir Johnson scored 14 and grabbed nine rebounds, while Bradley added 13 points and five assists.

Jeff Teague led Indiana with 20 points and four assists. Myles Turner scored 17 and had eight rebounds. Ellis notched 15 points in the Pacers’ first home loss of the season.

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CLIPPERS 119, TIMBERWOLVES 105: Blake Griffin had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and DeAndre Jordan added 18 points and 16 rebounds at Minneapolis to lead Los Angeles to its sixth straight victory.

LAKERS 126, PELICANS 99: Jordan Clarkson scored 23 points, fellow reserve Lou Williams added 21 and Los Angeles won for the fifth time in six games, at New Orleans.

HAWKS 117, 76ERS 96: Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 20 points, Kent Bazemore added 17 and Atlanta, at home, won its fourth straight game.

RAPTORS 118, KNICKS 107: DeMar DeRozan scored 33 points, Norman Powell added 19 and Toronto, at home, beat New York for the fourth straight time.

BULLS 106, WIZARDS 95: Jimmy Butler scored 37 points and Chicago won at home.

JAZZ 102, HEAT 91: Gordon Hayward scored 25 points, Rodney Hood added 17 and Utah won at Miami, handing the Heat a fourth consecutive loss.

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SPURS 106, ROCKETS 100: Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points to lead San Antonio at Houston.

PISTONS 106, NUGGETS 95: Tobias Harris scored 19 points, Marcus Morris had 17 and Detroit earned its first road win of the season.

BUCKS 106, GRIZZLIES 96: Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points and Michael Beasley added a season-high 19 to help Milwaukee win at home.

NETS 122, SUNS 104: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored a career-high 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, leading Brooklyn to its first road victory of the season.


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