Isaiah Thomas powers Celtics past Suns in return to Phoenix

Isaiah Thomas made the most of his revenge game. 

Facing his former Phoenix Suns team four days after he was shipped off to the Celtics at the trade deadline, Thomas helped power Boston to a 115-110 victory. 

When the stakes were high, Thomas shined bright. 

The combo guard nailed a deep 3-pointer with 1:37 remaining and got fouled on the shot to make it a four-point play. After putting the Celtics up four, Thomas immediately stared down the Suns' bench.

He proceeded to convert a difficult layup with under a minute remaining to extend Boston's lead to seven. 

It was only fitting Thomas made a pair of free throws with a second remaining to seal the deal and finish with 21 points and seven assists. Thomas has scored 21 points in back-to-back games off the bench in his first two contests as a member of the Celtics. 

Phoenix moved both Thomas and Goran Dragic at the trade deadline, busting up its three-headed guard combo. Thomas shot down rumors prior to the game that he was a problem with the Suns, who moved him months after signing him to a four-year deal. 

The 5-foot-9 guard's big game spoiled Brandon Knight's home debut with the Suns and sent Phoenix to another painfully close loss as it attempts to surpass the Oklahoma City Thunder for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. 

Phoenix has lost eight of its last nine games, including five straight - four of which have been by five points or fewer. The revamped and surging Thunder, winners of six consecutive, have a two-and-a-half game lead over the Suns, who dropped to 10th in the West with the loss. 

Knight, who teamed up with Eric Bledsoe to form Phoenix's starting backcourt after coming off the bench in his first Suns game, scored 20 points and dished out four assists. 

Alex Len added 10 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in the loss. 

Avery Bradley scored a game-high 23 points, and added a career-high six steals, for his third consecutive 20-plus point game.