Boston Celtics Playoff Headlines: Isaiah Thomas Delivers Big Game 1 Performance
The Boston Celtics took game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Wizards led by a very tired and emotional Isaiah Thomas.
When it comes to heart, Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas has displayed plenty of it the last couple of weeks.
That heart was once again displayed Sunday afternoon at the TD Garden. Just one day after giving a eulogy at his sister’s funeral. Thomas put up a game-high 33 points and dished out nine assists to help lead the Celtics past the Washington Wizards 123-111 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Not only did Thomas overcome fatigue from flying cross country the night before the game, he overcame losing a tooth in the first quarter. The biggest obstacle was pulling his team out of an early 16-0 deficit.
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While making big shots were big Sunday afternoon, the heart and drive Thomas showed in fighting through the fatigue and pain uplifted his teammates.
Following the game, Thomas expressed how tough it was. But, he gave it his all because it’s the playoffs and there are “no excuses’ when games are this important.
Boston Celtics big man Al Horford, who added 21 points and was clutch down the stretch, had nothing but admiration for Thomas and his approach to every game so far this postseason.
"“I don’t know if I would have been able to handle it in that way,” Horford told reporters, via the Providence Journal. “He’s able to come here and say no excuses, but he has a perfectly good excuse and he still comes out, he’s focused and it was like he flew back with us from Chicago yesterday.”"
Overall, the performance Isaiah Thomas put forth Sunday afternoon may just go down as one of the most memorable in Boston Celtics history.
The way he fought through the emotion of burying his sister just less than 24 hours prior to the game was clutch. He was focused, determined and dedicated to playing the game for his sister.
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No. 4 was so focused and dedicated, the pain of having a tooth knocked out couldn’t stop him from leading his team to a 1-0 lead in the second round of the playoffs.