Hawks, Celtics alone on playoff stage in close out game

Atlanta leads series 3-2. 8 p.m., TNT

Boston All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas became the latest marquee player to visit the training room when he limped to the locker room with a mildly sprained left ankle in the closing minutes of his team's loss Tuesday night.

Luckily for the shamrock faithful, it was only a visit.

Coach Brad Stevens said Wednesday that all signs point toward Thomas being able to play Thursday. The coach said he'd gotten all positive updates on the All-Star guard's status since their return to Boston. Thomas didn't experience much swelling and was feeling good Wednesday.

He averaged 35 points in two victories at Boston that evened the series, but managed only seven points Tuesday as the Hawks sent a myriad of double teams his way. That's only expected to continue.

''I'll be ready no matter what,'' Thomas said. ''I just tweaked it. I tweaked it in Game 4 as well in the fourth quarter. I just tweaked it again. It hurt right when it happened. I came back here and iced it. I'll be all right.''

Stevens says it's still unlikely that Avery Bradley will be able to return this series after sitting out his fourth straight game with a strained right hamstring. He said Bradley did do some jogging recently, but experienced some soreness afterward.

It's not an ideal time for Boston to not be at its best.

Atlanta not only found its shooting touch in Game 6, but a small ball rotation - and impact player in reserve Mike Scott - that has given Boston all kinds of fits.

The Hawks were plus-26 points when Scott on the floor and played their best when Al Horford was out and with Scott and Paul Millsap in the front court.

Scott thinks he knows how can duplicate his Game 5 output.

''Just play with a lot of energy, be aggressive. I don't think I was aggressive in Boston for those two games,'' he said. Just getting back to my game, not worrying about my shot, just doing the little things and having fun.''