Celtics teetering without Thomas

CLEVELAND — Isaiah Thomas pushed his body — and the Boston Celtics — as far as he possibly could.

Battling a hip injury the past two months and then playing through the darkest period of his life, he proved an inspiration while dedicating his performances to his late sister.

Thomas left it all on the floor and paid the price.

The All-Star point guard’s season is over, and his team may soon follow. The Celtics trail the Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1 in the NBA Eastern Conference finals after Boston’s 111-108 victory Sunday night.

Thomas didn’t travel with the Celtics, staying in Boston so he can visit hip specialists. Before Sunday’s shootaround, Celtics Coach Brad Stevens said Thomas may need surgery for the hip impingement, which has been bothering him since March.

The injury was so severe that Stevens said he was surprised Thomas was able to play Game 7 of Boston’s semifinal series against Washington. Thomas got through the first half of Friday’s 44-point loss in Game 2 before the team shut him down to avoid further injury.

“There were times where you could see he was really struggling, but probably nothing like the other night,” Stevens said. “I thought the first half he was really hurting, really didn’t have any bounce, didn’t have any push. And it’s one of those things where being around him for the last couple of years, he wants to play through any and all circumstances.”

Thomas