NBA Playoffs Round 1: Bulls Beat Celtics 106-102 In Game 1, Isaiah Thomas Scores 33 Day After Sister’s Death

Isaiah Thomas played with a heavy heart in the Boston Celtics‘ 106-102 home loss to the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night.

NBA Playoffs Round 1, Game 1: Isaiah Thomas, Celtics Lose to Bulls

The point guard scored a team-high 33 points in Game 1 of the first-round playoff matchup, which came one day after his younger sister died at the age of 22 in a fatal single-car accident.

The Celtics held a pre-game moment of silence for Chyna Thomas, who was killed in a crash on an interstate highway in her home state of Washington on Saturday morning. Her car struck a cement barrier and a large sign post, and she died at the scene.

Thomas was notified of her death following the Celtics’ practice Saturday afternoon.

It was initially unclear whether the guard would play on Sunday, and before the game, television cameras showed his teammate Avery Bradley comforting him on the bench during the shoot-around. However, it then became evident Thomas would play: he led the team onto the court and received a giant ovation from the Boston crowd of 18,624 at TD Garden.

Thomas was the last of the Celtics’ starters to be introduced, and throughout the tribute to his sister, the 28-year-old bowed his head as his eyes reddened and tears streamed down his cheeks.

The All-Star guard even inscribed several messages on his sneakers like Chyna,” “R.I.P. Lil Sis” and “I love you.”

Thomas did not address reporters following the game, but his teammates mentioned how emotional he was all through Sunday.

“It says a lot. Isaiah, to me, is like family,” Bradley said. “We grew up in the same area. I know it’s tough for him. It says a lot about him. He’s a true competitor, and tonight he was playing for his sister, and he was playing for his family.”

Al Horford, who finished with 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Boston, echoed Bradley’s sentiment.

”We’re never going to make excuses, but this is hard,” Horford said. ”This was difficult, and I felt like our guys really dealt with it best. We knew (Thomas) was hurting…we have a lot of respect for him that he was able to come out.”

Celtics coach Brad Stevens praised Thomas for his performance Sunday, and said the team would be there for him during this difficult time.

“Whatever he needs to do, he needs to do, and we’ll help him in any way,” Stevens said.

Stevens added that he left the decision about whether or not Thomas would play up to the guard, knowing full well the emotional pain his player was experiencing.

“We’ve talked, a little bit last night and then again today, about as he goes through it, and if he feels like he needs to not [play], then whatever he wants,” Stevens said. “I think that one of the things that I’ve learned, having been through situations in the past, is that there’s really no right or wrong answer. It’s whatever’s right for him. That’s what we’ve encouraged him. And he’s really hurting. It’s a tough situation.”

Inside the Celtic’s locker room, small forward Gerald Green — who is close with Thomas — wrestled with his own emotions while attempting to describe what Thomas was enduring.

“I’m playing this postseason for him,” said Green, who signed with the Celtics last summer in large part because of his relationship with Thomas. The two played together previously in Phoenix.

Added Green: “I can’t really explain how tough this is right now, man.”

Many NBA teams, including the Bulls, issued a statement of condolence for Thomas on Saturday.

“It’s a horrible tragedy,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “He just seems like such a good kid, and obviously, he’s one of the great competitors we have in our league. … It’s just awful what happened.”

Jimmy Butler, who played with Thomas on the past two Eastern Conference All-Star teams, also expressed great admiration for his opponent’s tenacity.

“He’s a helluva player,” said Butler, who scored 30 points for Chicago on Sunday, 23 of them in the second half, and added nine rebounds. “It just goes to show the type of player and man he is to go out there and battle through what he was going through for his organization and team.”

Golden State star Kevin Durant also said Thomas was in his thoughts following the Warriors’ 121-109 Game 1 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.

“We’re all praying for him,” Durant said. “The NBA family’s behind him.”

The Bulls out-rebounded the Celtics 32-16 in the first half, including 16 offensive rebounds.

Boston gained an 88-87 lead with 5:33 remaining, before Chicago went on a 14-4 burst to retake the advantage. The Celtics got within two thanks to a layup from Thomas with 7.5 seconds left following a Bulls turnover, but Butler secured the victory with a pari of free throws.

Neither team held more than a two-possession lead until Butler made free throws with four minutes remaining to make it 95-88. Butler then scored 10 straight points to put Chicago ahead again early in the fourth.

Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round series between the Bulls and Celtics is Tuesday night in Boston.

In the other first-round Game 1s on Sunday, the Washington Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks 114-107, and the Houston Rockets defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 118-87.

On Saturday, the Utah Jazz edged the L.A. Clippers 97-95, the Cleveland Cavalier beat the Indiana Pacers 109-108, while the San Antonio Spurs routed the Memphis Grizzlies 111-82 and the Milwaukee Bucks topped the Toronto Raptors 93-87.

The Cavs and Pacers face off for Game 2 in Cleveland on Monday at 7 pm EST, while the Grizzlies and Spurs will play in San Antonio on Monday at 9:30 pm EST.

MIAMI, FL – NOVEMBER 28: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics drives to the basket during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on November 28, 2016 in Miami, Florida.