Not ‘MMA,’ but Wizards get physical

One game into the playoffs, Paul Millsap said his Hawks were playing basketball while the Wizards were “playing MMA.”

One game into the second round, Isaiah Thomas had his tooth knocked out by an elbow from Otto Porter. With a backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Wizards like to get out in transition, but they’ve also showed a willingness — maybe even an eagerness — to get physical.

Markieff Morris didn’t even consider the Wizards’ Game 3 win over the Celtics on Thursday night terribly physical despite eight technical fouls and three ejections.

“We can turn it up a notch and be more physical,” Morris said. “As long as we win, we don’t care how it goes.”

Morris is the engine of the Wizards’ edgy play, unafraid to bump and grind inside and get under the skin of opponents. Since he arrived in a trade from the Suns last year, some of that has rubbed off on teammates, like mild-mannered Kelly Oubre Jr. He was tossed from Game 3 for charging and knocking over Kelly Olynyk.

Coach Scott Brooks and Oubre’s teammates acknowledged that was over the line and hope the young swingman will learn from his actions. Oubre said the lesson he took from it was “don’t beeline anybody anymore on the court.”

Oubre’s actions could lead to a suspension for Game 4 Sunday, but the Wizards aren’t backing down against the Celtics, who lead the series 2-1 and seem willing to engage in the physical side.

“This series is going to be feisty,” said Wizards guard Brandon Jennings, who was ejected in the fourth quarter along with the Celtics’ Terry Rozier for two double technical fouls. “We’re still down one, still down in the series. Game 4 ... is going to be probably crazy.”

Celtics center Al Horford said the Wizards’ performance in Game 3 was an example of “the way they junk the game up a little bit.” Even as Thomas complained about a discrepancy in fouls, coach Brad Stevens knows what the Celtics must do.

“Part of playing good basketball is being appropriately physical and being able to own your space and hold your ground,” he said.

The Celtics said Thomas had “extensive oral surgery” for a lost tooth and two damaged teeth. They said he had a temporary bridge but didn’t fracture his jaw . ... Steve Kerr didn’t travel with the Warriors and will not coach in Games 3 or 4 as he continues to seek solutions for back problems. The Warriors lead the Jazz 2-0, with Game 3 set for Saturday in Salt Lake City . ... Spurs G Tony Parker underwent surgery Friday to repair a ruptured left quadriceps tendon he suffered Wednesday in Game 2 against the Rockets. Parker is out for the rest of the playoffs, and there’s no timeline yet for his recovery.