Written by Chris Forsberg at ESPN.com
When Tyler Ulis was a freshman at the University of Kentucky, Wildcats coach John Calipari set up a call in which Isaiah Thomas offered advice from one 5-foot-9 hoopster to another. Thomas was proof that an undersized guard could thrive in the NBA, and he implored Ulis to be himself.
On Sunday, their paths crossed for the first time at the pro level. And not only did they engage in one of the most entertaining jump balls in league history, but Ulis capped a career night by hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer after a Thomas turnover in Phoenix’s improbable 109-106 triumph at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Ulis, a rookie known more for his defense and playmaking, finished with a career-best 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Despite making only seven 3-pointers before Sunday’s game, he confidently connected on a pull-up 3 over Thomas to cap a wild final sequence.
According to probability-tracking website Inpredictable, the Suns had a mere 5.3 percent chance at winning Sunday’s game when Jaylen Brown was fouled with Boston up two with 20 seconds to play.
But Brown missed the first of two free throws, and Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe went quick for a layup. The Celtics called their final timeout to get Thomas, lifted in favor of defense, back on the court, and they were rewarded when he was fouled on the inbounds. But Thomas, who entered the game shooting 90.8 percent at the line, missed his first free throw and Boston settled for being up by two with 11 seconds to go.
Again, Bledsoe attacked the basket and Boston, maybe too concerned with not fouling, allowed him another layup. With 4 seconds to go, Boston still had time for a final gasp but couldn’t call timeout to advance the ball.
To continue reading this article, click here.
