BOSTON — The Boston Celtics roared to their 14th straight home victory, erupting for 31 points, including 16 by Isaiah Thomas, in the third quarter and routing the depleted Memphis Grizzlies 116-96 on Wednesday night.
The home winning streak is Boston’s longest since an 18-gamer in 1990-91. The Celtics (39-26) have won 17 of their last 22 games overall.
Down by three at halftime, the Celtics ran wild in a 31-12 third quarter, holding the Grizzlies without a field goal in the final 5:46 of the quarter.
Thomas and Evan Turner outscored the Grizzlies 14-4 in the final 5:11 of the quarter as the Celtics went on a 21-4 run in the final 7:47.
The Grizzlies, already missing four injured starters but coming in two nights after a short-handed win over the Cavaliers in Cleveland, lost top backup (starting with the others hurt) Mario Chalmers to what appeared to be a right ankle injury in the third quarter.
Chalmers had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists when he went down after his own shot and had to be helped off the floor by teammates. A local television commentator tweeted he saw Chalmers say, “I heard it pop.”
Thomas led all scorers with 22 points and added five assists. Turner had 16 points, eight assists and four rebounds off the bench, and Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley scored 15 points apiece,
Thomas, who has 111 points in the last four games, was guilty of his first turnover in four games in the first half — his errant pass to Jared Sullinger turning into Thomas’ first turnover in 106:23. He had one turnover in 28:31 on Wednesday, sitting out the fourth quarter.
The Celtics, who scored 64 points in the second half, went 15 of 32 from 3-point range.
The ageless Vince Carter turned back the clock with 16 of his 17 points in the second half and grabbed six rebounds for the Grizzlies (38-26). JaMychal Green also scored 17 points and matched his career high with 12 rebounds.
Memphis rookie Jarrell Martin, whose first season has been marred by a broken foot, scored 15 points in 10:31 in the first half.
He came in with eight points in 62 previous NBA minutes. Foul trouble limited him and he finished with 16 points and six rebounds.
NOTES: F Zach Randolph, who missed Monday night’s Memphis win in Cleveland with a knee injury, was still out as the Grizzlies’ injury list remained long. The team dressed nine players, one above the NBA minimum. Randolph had 25 points and 13 rebounds against the Celtics in the first meeting Jan. 10, a big Memphis home win. … Celtics F Jared Sullinger, hospitalized because of a skin infection, was a game-time decision and played. … The Celtics were hoping F Kelly Olynyk would return, but he missed his 10th straight game with his shoulder injury. “He needs to feel good about his shoulder . . . That’s a big part of it,” coach Brad Stevens said before the game. “It’s very much a pain thing, how much he can tolerate as we move forward. He didn’t feel overly comfortable after (Tuesday’s) practice, so we’ll give it another go (Thursday) and we’ll see.” … The Grizzlies had won six of the last seven games against the Celtics before Wednesday, but lost on their visit to Boston last season.