NBA: Celtics’ Thomas escapes suspension after swing at opponent

Sacramento Kings’ Darren Collison, left, blocks Boston Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas during the first half of a regular-season NBA basketball game in Mexico City, on Dec. 3, 2015. AP FILE

NEW YORK, United States — Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas was relieved to hear on Saturday that he won’t be suspended after what he said was an inadvertent swipe at the head of Atlanta Hawks guard Dennis Schroder.

The incident came in the first quarter of the Celtics’ 111-103 victory over the Hawks in game three of their NBA Eastern Conference playoff series on Friday, a win that saw Boston trim the deficit in the best-of-seven set to 2-1.

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An inspired Thomas poured in 42 points, but many observers thought he’d be missing game four. Instead he was assessed a flagrant one foul by the league but not suspended.

“I’m really focused on game four, but I’m glad I wasn’t suspended,” Thomas told reporters at Celtics practice on Saturday.

“I knew what I did. On replay, yeah, slower version, it’s going to look like I looked at him and tried to hit him. But I didn’t.

“I’m just glad I wasn’t suspended and I can help my team.”

Germany’s Schroder was still angry about the incident after the game.

Both players were assessed technical fouls for a heated exchange shortly after Thomas, who was pointing at something with his left hand, appeared to swing his already extended arm at Shroder’s head as the Hawks player moved past him.

“I’m not going to let nobody slap me in my face. I told him that,” Schroder told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “If you want to play like that, we’ll play like that. I was mad.”

In other post-game disciplinary action on Saturday, the NBA fined Celtics guard Marcus Smart $5,000 for flopping in the second half.