Isaiah Thomas drops 44 points behind monster 4th quarter

For the umpteenth time this season, the Boston Celtics escaped with a victory thanks to the fourth-quarter dominance of Isaiah Thomas.

The All-Star point guard erupted for 19 fourth-quarter points Wednesday in a win over the Toronto Raptors, finishing with a game-high 44. Thomas also chipped in seven assists and four rebounds in the 109-104 victory.

With few players on the roster who can create their own shot, head coach Brad Stevens has relied heavily on Thomas during the final 12 minutes of games this season. The 5-foot-9 guard is now averaging 10.5 points in the fourth quarter - more than any player in 20 years.

Related - Watch: Isaiah Thomas pulls up, drills 36-foot bomb

While Thomas remains a defensive liability, his scoring has more than made up for his struggles on the other end of the floor this season, and is a large reason why the Celtics sit second in the Eastern Conference.