He was simply unstoppable.
Isaiah Thomas put on a show Tuesday night as the two-time NBA All-Star scored 53 points in the Celtics’ 129-119 Game 2 overtime win over the Washington Wizards.
Boston now has a 2-0 lead in the second round of the best-of-seven-series. Thomas’ 53 points were also the most since Allen Iverson went off for 55 back in 2003. 29 of his 53 points came in the fourth quarter and overtime alone.
But the most enjoyable thing to come out of the game is the reason why Thomas played his little heart out.
On top of dental work to repair a broken tooth in Game 1, Thomas told reporters afterward that he was playing for his sister Chyna, who passed away from a car accident the day before the playoffs began. Tuesday, would have been her 23rd birthday.
“She would’ve been 23, so the least I could do is go out and play for her,” he said after the game.
Even Boston head coach Brad Stevens couldn’t believe it.
“There was a point today where he was not feeling good at all,” he said. “He was having a tough day, and I thought he was going to really have to gut this one out, and he not only guts it out, he ends up with 50. Pretty impressive.”
Brad Stevens on IT: "He not only guts it out, he ends up with 50." pic.twitter.com/wYIrEBtEf6
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) May 3, 2017
NBA players around the league chimed in on Thomas’ heroic outing as well as dedicating the game to his late sister.
Isaiah Thomas is pretty good
— Chris Bosh (@chrisbosh) May 3, 2017
God bless your soul @Isaiah_Thomas
— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) May 3, 2017
God smiling down @Isaiah_Thomas..
— Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 3, 2017
Smh @Isaiah_Thomas
— Rudy Gay (@RudyGay8) May 3, 2017
Damn IT
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) May 3, 2017
