Celtics rally to win
Thomas ignores sadness, lost tooth
Isaiah Thomas shook off having a tooth knocked out and the heartache of his sister’s funeral to score 33 points on Sunday, powering the Boston Celtics over the Washington Wizards 123- 111 in an NBA playoff game. Thomas went 11 of 23 from the floor, six of seven from the free- throw line and contributed nine assists as the Celtics battled back after surrendering the game’s first 16 points to beat the visiting Wizards in their best- of- seven Eastern Conference second- round opener. The Boston guard flew across the country to play after speaking Saturday at his sister Chyna’s funeral in WashingtonW state. She was killed two weeks ago in a car accident. “Basketball, when I’m on the court, it just keeps me going,” Thomas said. “I do everything for my sister now and that’s all I can do.” Thomas napped a at home and on t the flight to Boston and i ignored coach Brad Stevens saying he didn’t have to play. “It’s tough, but it’s the playoffs,” Thomas said. “I decided to play and I just tried to give it all I got for my team.”
Thomas also had his left front tooth knocked out after being struck in the face by an elbow from Washington’s Otto Porter midway into the first quarter.
Thomas saw his tooth pop out and fall onto the court and, not missing a beat, went over and picked up the tooth off the floor and later handed it to a Celtics trainer, broadly displaying a bloodied gaptoothed smile on the bench after going three for three following the dental mishap and leading all first- half scorers with 19 points.
“It just bothers me to talk,” Thomas said. “My tongue goes right through my tooth ... I’ve always had teammates that I’ve always clowned them about their tooth being out, and now I’m one of them.”
In the weekend’s only other playoff game, the Utah Jazz beat the Los Angeles Clippers 104- 91 to win their first- round Western Conference series 4- 3. They will face the Golden State Warriors in the second round starting Tuesday.