Celtics star shines against Bulls the day after his sister is killed
BOSTON — Isaiah Thomas took the floor to a deafening cheer for the Boston Celtics’ playoff opener against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night, just a day after his sister was killed in a car accident.
It was part of an emotional night for the All-Star point guard who had 33 points, six assists and five rebounds in Boston’s 106-102 loss.
The Celtics held a pregame moment of silence for Chyna Thomas, who died early on Saturday in a one-car interstate accident in their home state of Washington. She was 22.
Thomas was informed of her death following the team’s practice on Saturday afternoon.
It was unclear if he’d play on Sunday, and prior to the game television cameras captured teammate Avery Bradley comforting Thomas on the bench during the pregame shootaround.
But Thomas led the team out of the tunnel when Boston took the floor for pregame warmups.
He looked toward the rafters just before the tip-off. On his shoes were written several messages, including “Chyna,” “RIP Lil Sis” and “I love you.”
Thomas did not address the media afterward but his teammates said emotion tailed him throughout the day.
“It says a lot. Isaiah, to me, is like family,” Bradley said. “We grew up in the same area. I know it’s tough for him. It says a lot about him. He’s a true competitor and tonight he was playing for his sister and he was playing for his family.”
Condolences poured in from around the league, from NBA commissioner Adam Silver and various players and friends.
Thomas, in his sixth season, grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and starred at the University of Washington.
Golden State’s Kevin Durant talked about Thomas after the Warriors’ Game 1 victory over Portland.
“We’re all praying for him, the NBA family’s behind him,” Durant said.
Coach Brad Stevens said Thomas was “struggling” prior to the game, and it showed early as he uncharacteristically missed his first free-throw attempt short off the front rim. But how he was able to lock in down the stretch was no surprise to his coach.
“He was incredible,” Stevens said. “He’s an amazing player, an amazing person. Days won’t get any easier for him, but he somehow plays like that.”
He said Thomas has freedom to do “whatever he needs to do” as related to his sister and family, and that decisions on his availability are Thomas’ alone.
“Those have got to come when he’s ready, and then we’ ll adjust accordingly,” Stevens said.
The Bulls were among the first NBA teams to release a statement of condolence for Thomas on Saturday.
Butler, who played alongside Thomas on the past two Eastern Conference All-Star teams, said he also was in awe of what Thomas was able to do.
“He’s a hell of a player,” Butler said. “It just goes to show the type of player and man he is to go out there and battle through.”
Butler had 30 points and nine rebounds as the Bulls outlasted top-seeded Boston.
He also got a big lift from the Bulls’ young reserves, who outscored their Boston counterparts 35-22.
Bobby Portis finished with 19 for the Bulls.
Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg lauded his team’s defensive effort, particularly how it outrebounded Boston 53-36. He also had praise for the job Butler did defending Thomas late, after Rajon Rondo picked up his fifth foul.
Rondo said they wanted to be aggressive.
“I told the guys coming out it was going to be physical and we wanted to throw the first punch,” he said.
Al Horford had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the Celtics. He was active throughout, coming up with several big baskets and assists to keep his team in the game.
Game 2 in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series is on Tuesday night in Boston.