Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas Returns from Strained Groin

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens was explaining his decision to play point guard Isaiah Thomas the entire fourth quarter on Friday night against the Charlotte Hornets when he half-jokingly deadpanned, “You know, he didn’t do anything all week.”

Thomas sat out four games while rehabbing from a strained groin and missed a travel-heavy stretch for the Celtics. Limping home barely above .500 and with their confidence rattled, the Celtics needed a jolt — and Thomas, despite the obvious rust from his absence, was ready to provide it. Thomas logged nearly 35 minutes while scoring a game-high 26 points. That included playing a team-high 19 minutes, 48 seconds in the second half, while helping the Celtics rally from a double-digit deficit for a much-needed 96-88 triumph over the Hornets at TD Garden.

Source: Chris Forsberg of ESPN