Thomas’s point total was a career high as the Celtics closed to two games to one in the best-of-seven series.
A charismatic point guard who achieved legend status as a Brooklyn schoolboy, he helped lift Syracuse University to national prominence in basketball and went on to play in the N.B.A.
The Charlotte Hornets and Portland Trail Blazers are hoping a change in venue will provide some mojo in the NBA playoffs, while the Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors look to take 3-1 leads in their first-round series Saturday.
Despite lopsided wins by San Antonio in the first two games of the Western Conference opening-round playoff series against the injury depleted Memphis Grizzlies, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili knew Friday night would be different.
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t play with their usual methodical precision. Kawhi Leonard more than offset those shortcomings, especially against ragtag Memphis.
LeBron James had 20 points and 13 rebounds, and Kyrie Irving made a pair of big 3-pointers down the stretch to help the Cleveland Cavaliers move within a game of a first-round sweep with a 101-91 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.