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Thomas calls out Valanciunas over standings remark

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors have flipped places in the Eastern Conference standings, thanks to Boston playing well of late, and a month-long malaise setting in on the Raptors.

After Wednesday's 109-104 Celtics win over Toronto, Isaiah Thomas - who scored 44 points - wasn't ready to forget some previous comments from Raps center Jonas Valanciunas.

"I remember when Valanciunas said we were trying to get to second and they were going for first," Thomas told reporters. "So it's the other way around now. They're trying to chase for second. Now we're going for first. So words come back to bite you if you can't back it up."

Related: What's wrong with the reeling Raptors?

After a Jan. 10 Toronto win over Boston, Valanciunas said, "they (the Celtics) are racing for the second place, we are racing for the first."

Intentional shade or not, Valanciunas' words stuck with Thomas. The Raptors had beaten the Celtics twice this season coming into Wednesday (Boston was without Thomas for the first game), but were minus DeMar DeRozan.

The final regular-season meeting between the clubs comes Feb. 24 in Toronto.

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