Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas put up a career-high 44 points Tuesday night in the 112-109 overtime win against the Grizzlies. It was the Celtics’ first win in Memphis since 2010 -- they had lost the previous four.
Thomas is the first Celtics player with at least 40 points in a regular-season game since Jeff Green scored 43 against the Miami Heat in March 2013.
Thomas’ 44 points are the most scored by a Celtic player in a regular-season game since Paul Pierce scored 50 in February 2006.
Over the past 50 years, the only Celtics guard to score more points than Isaiah Thomas is Danny Ainge, the current Celtics GM and the man who traded for Thomas. Ainge put up 45 points against the Philadelphia 76ers on Dec. 9, 1988.
Thomas did all of his damage on just 16 shots. His 44 points are tied with Amar’e Stoudemire (March 2010, against the Jazz) for the second most by a player in the past 30 seasons who attempted 16 or fewer shots in a game. Only Gilbert Arenas has scored more on as many shots. He scored 46 points against the New York Knicks on Feb. 25, 2006.
Thomas also was perfect from the line Tuesday night. According to Elias Sports Bureau research, his 17 made free throws are the most without a miss in Celtics history.
Thomas matched his career best from beyond the arc, hitting 7 of 10.
