Evan Turner dominated Wednesday night’s overtime to push Boston to a 139-134 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Turner, who has made a reputation around the league for coming through in the clutch, did so time and time again during crunch time of Wednesday’s overtime session. Beginning exactly at the two-minute mark, he scored seven consecutive points over three straight possessions to turn a two-point Boston deficit into a three-point lead.
First, he canned a silky-smooth jumper right in DeAndre Jordan’s grill. Turner threw a pump fake on the 7-footer from just inside the right elbow and dropped a swish through the net to tie things up at 132-132.
Next, Turner beat Luc Mbah a Moute off the dribble with a drive down the right side of the lane and put home a layup off the glass as he was fouled. Turner converted on the free throw to put Boston on top by three.
Lastly, after Chris Paul nailed a floater at the other end for Los Angeles, Turner made his biggest shot of the night. Jamal Crawford, not known around the league as a great defender, was defending Turner with less than a minute left on the clock. Turner posted him up just near the right elbow and threw a Dream Shake on Crawford, shaking loose for a beautiful fadeaway jumper with 58.3 seconds left that put the C’s on top 137-134.
Los Angeles didn’t score another point the remainder of the game, and Jonas Jerebko canned two free throws to secure a thrilling victory for Boston.
Turner’s overtime takeover was incredible to watch, but he should give thanks to Isaiah Thomas for getting the C’s to the extra session. Thomas scored four straight points – all of which were scored on Jordan – during the final minute of regulation.
On this night, many players came through in the clutch for Boston. Turner and Thomas, however, take the cake.
Isaiah Thomas drew a foul Wednesday night and Doc Rivers, the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, joked to the referees, “I guess he’s an All-Star.”
Yes, Doc, he most certainly is.
Thomas will fly Thursday evening to Toronto to participate in his first All-Star game this weekend, but before he took off, he put in one more All-Star show for the TD Garden faithful. Thomas went back-and-forth with Chris Paul during an epic point guard battle and finished the night with a game-high 36 points.
Brad Stevens spoke after the game about how impossible it was to stop Paul. Surely, Rivers is thinking the same thing about Thomas.
Thomas scored the basketball in every which way. From 3-pointers to athletic drives to drawing fouls, he did it all. Most notably, he scored multiple clutch baskets in the face of DeAndre Jordan, who finished third in last season’s Defensive Player of the Year voting. He made 12 of his 21 shot attempts and 11 of his 12 free throws.
Boston’s point guard scored with the best of them but also ran his team’s offense at a high level. He dished out 11 assists, trailing only Paul’s 13 on the night.
Wednesday’s performance stands as Thomas’ sixth double-double of the season. He trails only Jared Sullinger’s 15 on the Celtics.
Thomas’ box score line tonight evidences why this guy is an All-Star this season. Rivers got a first-hand look.
Brad Stevens on his expectations of the upcoming trade deadline.
