Stevens: Isaiah will play in Game 1 if emotionally ready after sister's funeral
Isaiah Thomas is expected to be good to go for Sunday's East semifinals opener against the Washington Wizards, but he can sit out if he feels like it.
The Boston Celtics point guard left the bench with about a minute remaining in his club's 115-99 series-clinching victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Thomas, who declared the game was over long before that point, had to catch a flight to his hometown of Tacoma, Wash. for the funeral of his younger sister Chyna, who was killed in a car crash two weeks ago.
The clutch 28-year-old guard is expected to return to Beantown on Saturday night so he can suit up in Game 1 at TD Garden. He doesn't have to play, though, if he isn't emotionally ready following the memorial service.
"(Saturday's funeral) is a lot more important than (Game 1 on) Sunday," head coach Brad Stevens said, as quoted by ESPN's Chris Forsberg. "If it's difficult, it's difficult, but it's just a basketball game. He'll be ready to play. And if he decides when he gets there that it's too much, that's OK. That's fine. This is a lot more important."
The coach has afforded his point man the freedom to do "whatever he needs to do" during this difficult time. To the amazement of many, including Stevens, Thomas hasn't missed a single contest and averaged 23 points, 5.8 dimes, 4.3 rebounds, and a steal in six contests versus the Bulls.
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Jae Crowder marveled at the strength his teammate has shown, and believes Thomas will come back and help the team.
"He's shown he can overcome a lot. We're his family, he's going to be with his family, so I think he'll be able to bounce back," he said. "But we know he's going through a lot, and he wants us to prepare, and that's what we're gonna do. We're gonna prepare and, when he gets back, he said he'll be ready to go."
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