Celtics' Isaiah Thomas out for remainder of playoffs with hip injury
Boston Celtics All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas will miss the remainder of the playoffs with an injured right hip, the team announced on Saturday.
Thomas injured his hip on March 15 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, re-aggravated it in Game 6 against the Washington Wizards in the Eastern Conference finals and aggravated it more in Game 2 of the conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday.
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“Isaiah has worked tirelessly to manage this injury since it first occurred,” Celtics chief medical officer Dr. Brian McKeon said in a news release. “The swelling increased during the first two games against Cleveland, and in order to avoid more significant long-term damage to his hip, we could no longer allow him to continue.”
Thomas, whose 22-year-old sister Chyna died in a car accident at the start of the playoffs, did not play in the second half of Game 2 against Cleveland.
“He aggravated it pretty significantly (May 12) in Washington Game 6, went through a bunch of different testing on (May 13) and Sunday, was able to play Monday, hasn't felt great either of the two days,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. “But (Friday) I thought he looked much different in the first half. When we went back to the locker room, our training staff and doctors got with him. He was pretty despondent not to be able to play. I mean, that guy is a tough guy, and he plays through a lot. For him to have to sit is really hard.”
Thomas, who was named All-NBA second team on Thursday, struggled throughout the playoffs, and while the Celtics are down 2-0 against the Cavs with the next two games in Cleveland, Thomas’ absence hurts Boston’s chances to win a game in the series.
Stevens hinted at the injury after the Celtics defeated the Wizards in Game 7, but Thomas declined to say what was hurting.
“I’m hurting, but it’s the playoffs, so there are no excuses. I get my treatment every day, and I’m ready to play. I couldn’t tell you any more than that.”
