BOSTON _ Asked how he expected to stop Boston's diminutive scoring machine, Isaiah Thomas, 76ers point guard T.J. McConnell didn't hesitate and blessed himself.
McConnell, who got his third consecutive start at point guard because of an ankle sprain to Sergio Rodriguez, got some more realistic help in guarding Thomas, who entered the game averaging 27.8 points per game, from Robert Covington _ a foot taller than the 5-9 Thomas _ and others. But it was McConnell who hounded the All-Star most of the night at TD Garden, forcing Thomas into a 24-point night.
But fellow guard Avery Bradley picked up the slack with 26 points, and the Celtics poured in 19 3-pointers en route to a 110-106 win over the Sixers, who once held a 14-point lead.
Veteran Al Horford, limited to just two points in the first half for Boston, scored 17 in the final 24 minutes, including a 3-pointer from the right corner with 17.2 seconds remaining in the fourth as the Celtics improved to 22-14, while the Sixers dropped to 9-25.
After a wild scramble for the ball off the ensuing inbounds, Ersan Ilyasova got a very good look from 18 feet on the right baseline, but couldn't convert. Amir Johnson then made one of two free throws for the Celtics with 6.3 seconds left.
Ilyasova then missed a semi-open 3 and Thomas sank two free throws to close out the game.
With Boston holding a tentative 100-99 lead, Thomas stroked a 3 from the left wing. Minutes later, Gerald Henderson, who came off the bench to score 18 for the Sixers, tied the game at 104-104 with a 3 and blocked a jumper by Bradley on the next defensive possession.
McConnell spearheaded the Sixers offense with 17 assists and nine points, while Joel Embiid, who hit two free throws with 28.7 seconds remaining to give the Sixers a 106-104 lead, scored 23 points before fouling out late in the game.
The Sixers battled foul trouble most of the night among their big men, as Embiid picked up his fifth in the third quarter and Noel (13 points, eight rebounds, three blocks) got his fifth early in the fourth.
Coach Brett Brown did not use centers Jahlil Okafor or Richaun Holmes at all as Noel played a season-high 25 minutes.
"He does what he does and I think the Celtics are a very good offensive team," Brown said of Thomas. "He's just so elusive. He's got the ability to create off the dribble. That might sound like it's common to just say that, but it's rare and it's hard to guard somebody who can create their own shot and at times doesn't need a pick-and-roll. You have to choose the defenders that can guard somebody that elusive, that dynamic. He's an All-Star for a reason.
"They have the ability to pick and pop Horford or (Kelly) Olynyk. Those guys can shoot threes, and that's part of the challenge of guarding Isaiah on pick-and-rolls, when you give him attention they now have the ability to pick and pop guys who can shoot threes at a high percentage."
