BOSTON -- The Boston Celtics will try to send their coach to the NBA All-Star Game with a home win on Friday night over the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Celtics' 109-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night featuring Isaiah Thomas' latest fourth-quarter dynamics gave Boston a 1 1/2-game lead over Toronto atop the Atlantic Division.
The win also gave Celtics coach Brad Stevens the lead for the spot in New Orleans.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have the best record in the Eastern Conference, but Tyronne Lue can't coach the All-Stars because he did it last year.