After missing the last eight games, Celtics sparkplug guard Isaiah Thomas appears ready to return tonight - against the team that sent him to the injury list, the Miami Heat.

That is just one of the subplots to tonight's game that has playoff implications.

The Celtics are 31-39 and hold down the eigth and final playoff spot in the east. The Heat are one game ahead of them, at 32-38. This is the final meeting of the season between the two teams. A win for the C's means they split the four games. A loss means Miami owns the tie-breaker.

Both Indiana and Charlotte are breathing down the necks of Boston and Miami.

As for Thomas, late in the March 9th game Dwayne Wade slammed him to the floor on a drive to the basket. Thomas landed on his tailbone and hasn't played since.

The Celtics won their first four game without Thomas and his 21ppg, then lost thrree in a row before winning Monday night in Brooklyn.

NOTE:  Tonight's Celtics vs Heat game can be heard live on Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket with coverage starting at 7pm.

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