Isaiah Thomas wrapped the Boston Celtics’ Game 4 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday with 33 points and seven assists on a tidy 10-of-21 shooting (though he did shoot just 1-of-9 from three). But don’t mistake his otherworldly performances for peace of mind.
He’s still very much grieving the death of his younger sister, who was killed in a car crash just before the NBA playoffs tipped off, and he admitted as much after Game 4, per ESPN.com’s Chris Forsberg:
Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas said his mind is not fully focused on basketball as he grieves the loss of his sister, and he’s feeding off the support of his teammates during Boston’s first-round series against the Bulls.
“Mentally and emotionally, I’m not here, so I just feed off what the guys give me,” Thomas said while addressing reporters for the first time since his younger sister, Chyna, died in a single-vehicle accident on April 15, a day before the series began.
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“[My teammates] give me a lot of confidence. I can’t do it without those guys. They believe in me,” Thomas said. “Being here is what makes me, I guess, sane. It makes me feel somewhat normal through these tough times.”
No one can ask for anything more of Thomas during this beyond trying time. It’s a miracle that he’s playing at all, through this emotional and mental pain, let alone playing at such a high level.
The Celtics’ offense still struggles to exist without him, and he’s reached the rim, on most nights, almost at will. If he’s ever able to check into the series on his own terms, perhaps partially free of the emotional burden that comes with losing a loved one unexpectedly, the Bulls will be in serious trouble. They’re actually already in series danger of collapsing, and the version of Thomas the Celtics are getting, along with Rajon Rondo’s absence, is a major reason why.
