Celts’ Thomas expected back for Game 1
WALTHAM, MASS. >> The already short break between rounds of the NBA playoffs won’t provide much of a rest for Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas.
Thomas left from the Celtics’ first-round series-clinching victory over Chicago on Friday night to fly to Tacoma, Washington, and attend his sister’s funeral. He was expected to fly cross-country and arrive in Boston early Sunday morning, in time to play in the 1 p.m. start of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Wizards.
“It’s hard to think about how he feels right now,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said on Saturday, the only off-day between rounds, after the rest of the team went through a film session and walkthrough.
Stevens said he and the rest of the team would have accompanied Thomas for support if there had been no game on Sunday. Instead, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and assistant coach Jerome Allen went with Thomas.
“I know it’s going to be hard on him,” guard Avery Bradley said. “But we’re going to make sure we’re here for him and we’re prepared. I’m sure he’s going to be prepared for the game.”
Thomas scored 12 points but played only 25 minutes in the 10583 victory over the Bulls on Friday night, when Boston eliminated Chicago and advanced in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2012.That earned then a secondround matchup with the Wizards, who eliminated the Atlanta Hawks in six games on Friday night.
The Celtics and Wizards split their regular-season matchups — several of them turning testy.
Warriors hope to get Livingston, Barnes back
OAKLAND >> The Golden State Warriors hope to get injured reserves Shaun Livingston and Matt Barnes back from injuries for the second round of the playoffs after getting more than a week off between series.
The Warriors said Saturday that Barnes has been upgraded to probable for Tuesday night’s Game 1 and Livingston remains questionable but is hopeful he will be ready to return. Star forward Kevin Durant is expected to be a full go after missing two games and being limited to 20 minutes in Game 4 last round because of a strained left calf.
Barnes has been sidelined since April 8, while Livingston sprained a finger on his right hand in Game 1 of the first-round against Portland.
Golden State begins the second round at home on Tuesday night against the winner of Sunday’s Game 7 between the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz. The Warriors have been off since sweeping the Trail Blazers last Monday, giving them more than a week between games.
“I’m trying to make sure I rest it as much as I possibly can, because when I do come back I plan on staying all the way back,” Livingston said Saturday.
“Hopefully it will be Tuesday.” ready for