National Basketball Association

Thomas returns with Celtics as Suns look to snap skid

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

Just days after getting traded away, Isaiah Thomas is headed back to Phoenix.

Thomas could be looking to make a statement as his Boston Celtics visit the slumping Suns, who try to avoid an eighth loss in nine games Monday night.

Phoenix (29-27) surprised some when it acquired Thomas in a sign-and-trade with Sacramento back in July with fellow point guards Eric Bledsoe and Goran Dragic already on board. In the end general manager Ryan McDonough decided to blow things up. In addition to shipping Dragic to Miami, the Suns traded Thomas to Boston (20-33) in exchange for Marcus Thornton and a 2016 first-round draft pick.

"I was surprised, but at the same time I was anxious and excited," Thomas told the Celtics' official website. "I was only there for a little while, so it's not going to be that awkward. But it's going to be different playing against the guys I just practiced with (last week), so I'm excited and hopefully we can get a win."

Thomas was averaging 15.2 points with Phoenix, and he scored 21 off the bench in his Celtics debut before picking up two technical fouls and getting ejected with 5:03 to go in regulation in Sunday's 118-111 overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers. Fellow reserve Jae Crowder matched a career high with 22 points and Avery Bradley added 20, but it wasn't enough as Boston managed five points on 2-of-12 shooting in OT.

"Obviously, you need scorers on the floor late in the game," said coach Brad Stevens, whose team dropped to 0-2 on a three-game trek. "We have to do a better job of handling our emotions."

The reeling Suns are still looking for their moves to pay off after opening the season's second half with back-to-back defeats, 111-109 at Minnesota on Friday and 112-107 at Chicago on Saturday. Brandon Knight, acquired from Milwaukee in yet another deadline deal, finished with 13 points and five assists in his team debut.

"The game came kind of fast, just trying to recognize what the Suns are doing - what we're doing as a group," said Knight, who was leading the Bucks with 17.8 points per game. "I was told literally right before the deadline. I was very surprised. I can't lie to you about that. I definitely didn't think I'd be traded."

Phoenix has dropped seven of eight, including four in a row for the first time since a season-worst six-game skid Dec. 6-15. The Suns are now two games behind Oklahoma City for the Western Conference's final playoff berth.

Phoenix has taken three straight from the Celtics after pulling out a 118-114 win at Boston on Nov. 17. Markieff Morris scored 30 points while second-year center Alex Len had a career-high 19.

Sunday marked Boston's first game since learning Jared Sullinger will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone in his left foot. Sullinger leads the team with 14.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.

Celtics guard Evan Turner had 12 points and a career-high 12 assists Sunday, but he's averaging 6.7 points on 25.6 percent shooting over the last nine games. He's averaging 15.1 against the Suns for his highest mark against any team.