BOSTON -- Isaiah Thomas received pregame texts of encouragement from the "other" Isiah Thomas and Allen Iverson before the Boston Celtics' playoff game against the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.

"This" Isaiah Thomas then went out and scored 42 points to help breathe life into the Celtics' playoff chances with a 111-103 victory in Game 3.

"Allen Iverson just said, 'Keep fighting -- they did what they were supposed to do in Atlanta. Now it's time for you guys to take advantage of being at home,'" Thomas said after becoming the eighth Celtics player to score 40 points in a playoff game. "Then Isiah Thomas just gave me a few tips I can't tell you guys. He told me what he sees. He helped me out a lot."

The Celtics, who blew a 19-point third-quarter lead and led by as many as 20 in the first half, cut the Hawks' lead in the best-of-seven series to 2-1. Game 4 is set for Sunday night at TD Garden.

Thomas took his place among the list of Celtics greats with 40 points, including Larry Bird, John Havlicek and Sam Jones.

"I'm just glad we got the win, first and foremost," Thomas said. "That makes me feel happy just to be in the same category as those great players.

"I just want to follow in the footsteps of all the Celtics greats, and that starts by winning, and then other than winning, winning championships. We're far from that, but I still want to have my name up there, so I'm happy about that."

The only negative part of Thomas' night was the forearm/punch he threw at Dennis Schroder in the first quarter as the players made their way down the floor. They wound up with technical fouls.

"I have seen it back in the locker room. My thoughts are the league will review it," Atlanta coach Mike Budenholzer said. "The league does a thorough job in all things like this and they have high standards. All teams are kind of aware of their emphasis during the playoffs.

"As far as an explanation, there wasn't an explanation. There was a double technical, and I guess there was no review of the incident in the backcourt at the free throw line."

Asked if he's expecting a league review, Thomas said, "I'm not, because I didn't mean to hit him in the head. He got mad, he was talking, but it's playoff basketball -- that's what it's about. I'm not going to back down from anybody, and he knows that."

The win was the first NBA playoff victory for Boston coach Brad Stevens, who had dropped his first six postseason games.

"Game Sunday. It's great. It's better than the alternative," Stevens joked. "But this team's too good to do anything but focus on what's next."

Atlanta never led by more than one in the chippy affair, and the score was tied at 96 when the Celtics took over thanks to two old-fashioned three-point plays by Evan Turner.

The Hawks failed to score a field goal in the final 3:51.

Boston led by four when Thomas, who heard chants of "M-V-P" all night from the rowdy crowd, hit a bomb to make it 108-101 with 1:53 left.

When Thomas stole the ball and was fouled with 42.9 seconds left, he turned to the crowd and flexed his muscles before hitting his 41st and 42nd points. He left to a standing ovation with 11.4 seconds left.

There were three flagrant-one and two technical fouls in the game. There was also Thomas getting smacked in the head by Schroder later.

Hoping to turn around Boston's slow starts in the first two games, Stevens inserted Turner and Jonas Jerebko into the starting lineup. Turner had 17 points and seven assists and Jerebko totaled 12 rebounds, 11 points and four assists.

Amir Johnson delivered 15 points and seven assists and Marcus Smart had 11 points and five assists for the Celtics, playing without injured Avery Bradley and Kelly Olynyk.

Jeff Teague led the Hawks with 23 points, Schroder and Kent Bazemore both had 20 and Kyle Korver added 17. Paul Millsap and Al Horford were both held to eight points, but Horford had 13 rebounds and Millsap 10.

NOTES: Celtics F Kelly Olynyk missed his second straight game with his troublesome right shoulder. "They've been working around the luck for Kelly to get back," said coach Brad Stevens, who made changes in his starting lineup. "It's ultimately Kelly's call on that based on how he feels." ... Boston G Avery Bradley (hamstring) had progressed to being able to put on his own socks and is not due back any time soon. ...... G Jeff Teague's 23 points vaulted him from ninth to sixth on the Hawks' career scoring list. ... The Celtics came into Game 3 having led for just 1:08 in the series. ... There was a pregame moment of silence for former Celtic Ron Bonham, who died last week.