Celtics' Thomas could be sidelined for a week
A back and elbow injury kept Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas sidelined for Wednesday's triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies, and it's likely to force him out even longer, as the Cetics desperately try to remain in the playoff hunt.
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said on radio Thursday that Thomas could miss the team's next three games, which would keep him out for another week.
"It's pretty bad, pretty swollen on both sides of his lower back and his elbow," Ainge said.
The Celtics play the Orlando Magic on Friday, the Indiana Pacers - one of the teams they're chasing for the final two East playoff spots - Saturday, before a Monday contest against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston sits 10th in the East, 1.5 games back of the eighth-place Miami Heat.
Thomas suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of Monday's win over Miami. He took a hard fall after drawing contact from Dwyane Wade and was in visible pain, but remained in the contest.
The 5-foot-9 combo guard has done his part to keep the Celtics' unlikely playoff push alive since being a trade-deadline acquisition from the Phoenix Suns. He's averaging 21.4 points, 5.4 assists and more than two 3-pointers in 10 contests off the bench.
Thomas was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week after leading Boston to a 3-1 mark over his first four games with the team.