Thomas takes charge as Celtics topple 76ers

Boston Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas (4) goes up for the go-ahead shot past Philadelphia 76ers’ Dario Saric (9) and Jahlil Okafor (8) during the final minute of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Philadelphia. Boston won 107-106. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Isaiah Thomas scored the go-ahead layup with 30 seconds left as the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 107-106 on Saturday.

Thomas finished with 37 points to match his season high and fell one point short of his career high as Boston won for the third time in four games and the sixth time in eight.

“I just love the fourth quarter,” Thomas said. “I just want to win, whether it’s making plays for myself or making plays for my teammates.

“I get ultra-aggressive in that fourth quarter and that’s what I’ve always done.”

Thomas scored 12 straight Boston points in one stretch of the fourth quarter and had a total of 13 in the quarter in front of a crowd of 17,000 at the Wells Fargo Arena.

“Some guys get a little tight, a little timid,” he said. “I embrace it. I want to be great. I want to be somebody my teammates can call on when the game is close.”

Avery Bradley added 20 points for Boston, who beat the 76ers for the ninth consecutive time. Al Horford had 11, and Jae Crowder contributed 10.

Rookie forward Dario Saric tied his career highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia, which dropped its six straight.

Ersan Ilyasova had 18 points for the Sixers, while Sergio Rodriguez and Jahlil Okafor had 15 each.

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