Isaiah Thomas has been suspended two games for entering the stands to confront a Sixers‘ fan in the Wizard’s loss to Philadelphia Saturday.

Reportedly the situation started when Thomas was at the free throw line late in the fourth quarter. He visited the charity stripe where he missed his first attempt and made the second with the Wizards down 15 with three minutes left. After the Wizards called a timeout, the point guard made his way into the stands to confront two people who Thomas says were cursing at him while he was shooting the free throws.

His body language was calm, and it never seemed like things were going to get physical, but Thomas was ejected as he returned to the court. He claimed the fan had “both of his middle fingers up and said, ‘F— you, b—-,’ three times,” Thomas told ESPN.

“I said: ‘Don’t be disrespectful. I’m a man before anything. Be a fan.’ The fan responded, ‘I’m sorry, I just wanted a Frosty,'” Thomas said. The former all-star also said he learned that the arena has a popular promotion that rewards all fans with a Wendy’s “frosty” if an opposing player misses two consecutive free throws in the second half.

Clarification on the ejection was posted by NBA officials on NBA.com which read, “NBA rules state that any player who deliberately enters the spectator stands during a game will be automatically ejected and subject to a fine and/or suspension.  This bright-line rule is intended to prevent altercations or other hostile interactions between players and fans, for the benefit of both, and is therefore enforced even in circumstances such as these when the encounter between Thomas and fans did not escalate.”

In October the NBA created a zero tolerance policy for abusive or hateful behavior by fans after notable incidents occurred with multiple star players including Kyle Lowry, DeMarcus Cousins and Russell Westbrook.

The fan who had the exchange with Thomas, and another spectator have been banned from the Wells Fargo Center for one year. Those two fans admitted to using inappropriate language and gestures towards Thomas, which violated arena policy and the NBA code of conduct. The season ticket holder of those seats, who gave both fans the tickets, had his season tickets taken away and will receive a refund for the rest of the home games this season, according to the 76ers.

Thomas voiced his frustration with the suspension and tweeted, “”Bulls—,” on Sunday night.

The former Boston Celtics‘ star and Denver Nuggets backup Isaiah Thomas has moved on to join the Washington Wizards on a one-year deal, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The 30-year-old has suffered through injuries the past few seasons, but believes he can return to his old form with training this offseason.

Thomas has played eight seasons in the NBA and is most famously known for his time with the Celtics. In the 2016-17 season, Thomas averaged 28.9 points a game and was a second-team All-NBA player that season. He suffered a right hip injury that saw him out for more than eight months and was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He has since moved to the Los Angeles Lakers and to the Nuggets. The Nugs made the second seed in this year’s season and have incredible depth in the back-court, led by Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. Thomas found it difficult to find significant play time, but helped the team the best he could.

“Denver allowed me to take really as much time as I needed to get back to 100 percent health,” Thomas said, according to ESPN. “Obviously, I wanted to play, and I thought I could’ve contributed in the regular season and playoffs, but I understood [coach Mike Malone’s] decision, and I think I contributed in other ways as a leader, as someone who was there to answer the questions of the younger guys. I stayed ready and prepared to play.”

Thomas has played a total of 42 games the past three seasons. He expects to obtain a full offseason of preparation ahead of joining his new team this fall. He joins a team led by John Wall,and is still unsure whether or not Bradley Beal will still be with the team come the new season.

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“When I look at it from the outside, I understood it. I missed 50 games, the team was having a helluva season, and it wasn’t easy to just squeeze me in there when so many guys were playing so well. They didn’t want to mess up what they had going. I understood it.”

Isaiah Thomas finally found his way back to the TD Garden on Monday night when the Denver Nuggets took on the Boston Celtics. Since being shipped off by Danny Ainge to Cleveland in exchange for Kyrie Irving back in the summer of 2017, Thomas hadn’t played at his old stomping grounds.

Celtics Honor Isaiah Thomas, Guard Moved To Tears

Even though it’s now close to two years later, it’s no surprise that Boston fans erupted when Thomas returned. Despite playing only two seasons for the team, he became a fan favorite. The undersized point guard led a scrappy team deep into the playoffs in 2017, bothered by a degenerative hip condition on the court and the recent death of his sister off it.

Thomas also brought a tribute of his own. On his feet were a pair of green and gold sneakers. Though St. Patrick’s Day just occurred, it’s more than safe to say that the shoes were to commemorate his time as a Celtic.

That time was cut short, though. Thomas revealed that the shoes were made for the NBA Finals during his time in Boston. The Celtics never made it there. They fell short, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals as the No. 1 seed but winning only one game against the Cavs.

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After a messy departure, Thomas claims he isn’t bitter over how things went down. He even said that he’d be willing to come back.

“These were the most fun times in my career,” he said. “I turned into a superstar here. The world knew my name when I played for the Boston Celtics. Not saying they don’t now, but playing for Celtics changed my whole career on and off the floor. This city and this organization treated my family with 100 percent respect. Decisions happen, I never hold any grudges against anybody, even if I’m not for that decision. You never know what can happen. My options are always open no matter what it is. If I end up back here at some point, that would make the story that much better.”

Thomas will be a free agent after this season. With Terry Rozier‘s contract expiring, there’s a chance he could return to Boston.

Isaiah Thomas is set to make his debut for the Denver Nuggets at home against the Sacramento Kings. Thomas is coming off a very turbulent and uncertain last couple seasons of his career.

Isaiah Thomas To Return After Injury

Thomas got recognized on the Sacramento Kings as a skilled guard who, despite his 5-foot-5 height disadvantage in a league where the average height is 6-foot-6, he still showed he can play and compete in the league. Thomas would then spend a short time on the Phoenix Suns before playing on the Boston Celtics, where his career began to blossom.

In his third season playing for the Celtics, Thomas averaged a career-high 28.2 points a game. This is when Thomas received league recognition, was considered a star if not an All-star by most, and even got himself into the discussion for regular season MVP. Thanks to his electric play style and being able to defy the odds even with his height being a major issue for him the majority of his career, Thomas won the hearts of many.

It wasn’t until the postseason Thomas would go down with major hip injury, which left the status of his future unknown. With the Celtics not knowing how healthy Thomas was, they felt pressured to make a move and traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers for star point guard Kyrie Irving.

Still coming off that injury, Thomas didn’t return until December and only played 15 games before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. But once again, this trade was only meant to secure cap space as Thomas was then traded to his current destination, the Denver Nuggets.

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This proves to be a very uncertain and unsuspecting career for anyone. After playing the best season of his life, Thomas had gotten injured and then just ended up being used as trade bait. Thomas was never able to sign a big contract because of the concerns of his hip and what direction his career was headed towards.

While he has yet to play, it’s been said he’s been a big influence on the team, taking on the role of mentoring the Nuggets’ younger players and a good voice in the locker room due to his veteran experience.

Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone commented on Thomas.

“His voice, his leadership in huddles during games in practices and in the locker room,” said Malone. “We have a relatively quiet group, and one thing I think everybody knows that’s been around Isaiah is that he’s not quiet and that’s a good thing. That’s a good thing for our team. He brings an energy and a voice and a leadership that we sorely miss.”

His teammates and former coach were both happy to see Thomas make his return against the Sacramento Kings. Rookie Michael Porter Jr reached out on Twitter, while coach Brad Stevens was quoted after the Celtics defeated the Hawks.

Thomas received a standing ovation after he checked in last night and finished the game with 8 points and 2 assists in 13 minutes of play, as the Nuggets went on to win the game.

Isaiah Thomas apologized after insulting the city of Cleveland on social media on Saturday.

Isaiah Thomas Apologizes For Cleveland Comments

The Denver Nuggets point guard, who briefly played for the Cavaliers last season, said in an Instagram live video that Cleveland was a “s—hole” and added “I see why Bron left. Again.”

“[Sacramento,] LA and Boston was all love,” said Thomas in the video. “Phoenix was cool.”

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Thomas was of course referring to LeBron James, who signed with the Los Angeles Lakes last month after spending four years with the Cavs.

After facing strong backlash for his comments, Thomas apologized.

“I shouldn’t have said that,” Thomas stated. “That was my fault. Cleveland was actually cool, it was all right. The situation just wasn’t the best. I apologize for saying it was a s—hole. It wasn’t a s—hole. The team was dope, the players was filthy. My guy Gio. Training staff was cold. Nah, Cleveland was cool. I shouldn’t have said that, that was my bad. I was just talking on IG Live, I didn’t think it was gonna get to where they’re posting it. It’s like damn, my bad.”

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Thomas, a former Boston Celtics star, also issued an apology on Twitter:

The Cavaliers traded Thomas and Channing Frye to the Lakers on February 8, just six months after Thomas landed in Cleveland. Thomas then signed a one-year deal with the Nuggets on July 16.

During Thomas’s brief stint with the Cavs, reports surfaced about tensions between him and other players on the team like Kevin Love. Therefore, it isn’t entirely surprising that Thomas was mad at the city, which hadn’t won a major sports title in over 50 years until the Cavaliers won the NBA championship in 2016.

One person who took offense to Thomas’s remarks was ESPN’s Jalen Rose, a Cleveland native.

“Yes, us midwesterners we like pop and coney dogs, and we actually talk to our neighbors,” said Rose. “But you can’t tell me that being in Cleveland was a worse experience than being in Sacramento, a team that hasn’t made the playoffs and hasn’t developed the lottery pick since I don’t know when.”

Rose then noted that the Cavaliers have had much more success as a team than the Kings have in recent years, partly because James played for them.

Ryen Russillo added of Thomas: “He’s got to get over the Cleveland thing,” although he also said he “sympathized” with the veteran point guard.

Isaiah Thomas is now a Denver Nugget.

Isaiah Thomas Agrees To One-Year Deal With Nuggets

The free-agent guard signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the team on Thursday. This marks 29-year-old Thomas’s fourth team in four years. After one year with the Phoenix Suns and three seasons with the Boston Celtics, the two-time All-Star was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers last offseason. In February, Cleveland sent Thomas and Channing Frye to the Los Angeles Lakers in return for Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson. Thomas’s latest campaign ended early, however, after he suffered a hip injury in March and underwent surgery.

Thomas will now reunite with coach Michael Malone, under whom the point guard played with the Sacramento Kings in 2013-214.

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Thomas’s last season with the Boston Celtics, 2016-2017, was one of the finest of his NBA career: he averaged 28.9 points per game with the team, whom he helped lead to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Celtics ultimately lost to the Cavaliers 4-1.

Around the time last year’s playoffs started, Thomas also suffered a personal loss: his younger sister Chyna died in a car accident near his native Tacoma, Washington.

According to ESPN, Thomas is still in rehab for his hip injury, and has been treated in both Los Angeles and Seattle this offseason. This physical setback seemed to have hurt Thomas”s chances at signing a long-term deal with any team.

Incoming second-year Lakers player Kyle Kuzma bid Thomas farewell in a tweet in which he thanked the veteran guard for all of the things he taught him during the few months they were teammates.

Kuzma also recently said he can’t wait to play beside new Lakers addition LeBron James. 

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Dwyane Wade also congratulated Thomas on his new deal.

The Nuggets finished 46-36 and ninth in the Western Conference, ahead of the Lakers and Clippers but behind the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a strong run since 2018 began, but they were unable to secure a victory against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

Isaiah Thomas and Julian Randle Lakers fight news

There was some frustration on the visiting Lakers’ bench, as the game was close for most of the night. At one point in the second half, a heated argument erupted — between teammates.

Lakers Isaiah Thomas and Julius Randle were caught exchanging some angry words during a timeout. Several of their teammates, including Lonzo Ball, had to step in to separate the pair and calm them down.

Randle and Thomas later reconciled by shaking hands:

Lakers coach Luke Walton said he was unsure what the argument was about, but that he enjoyed the passion his players displayed and added that he encourages them to be open-minded.

The Warriors won the game at Oracle Arena 117-106. Kevin Durant led the defending champions with 26 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals. Golden State was missing stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green due to injuries. The win ended a two-game losing streak for the Warriors. Ball continued to struggle with shooting: the rookie finished with eight and 11 assists on 3-of-11 shooting from the field and 1-of-8 shooting from 3-point range.

Seven Warriors in total scored in double figures.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 07: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call in the second half against the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Former Boston Celtics point guards Rajon Rondo and Isaiah Thomas got into a scuffle in New Orleans Wednesday night and couldn’t avoid being ejected from their game against each other.

Isaiah Thomas, Rajon Rondo ejections news

The Pelicans’ Rondo and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Thomas were tossed in the final seconds of the first quarter of New Orleans’ 139-117 victory after repeated altercations. It all began when Rondo caught Thomas with a forearm to the face near the end of the first period. Rondo drew a flagrant foul, and angry verbal jabs between him and Thomas continued until officials decided they had seen enough.

“For whatever reason, he’s an upset guy about me,” Thomas told reporters after the game. “I don’t know what it is, but it’s fine. He kept bringing the tribute up, when I was the one that shut the tribute down. I’m far past that. I’m on the Lakers trying to figure out how to help this team win.”

Thomas — who just joined the Lakers last week in a deadline-day trade with Cleveland — also claimed Rondo struck him in the face three times and said he simply retaliated in self-defense. The 29-year-old All-Star added he believed his ejection was unfair and said that shortly before he was thrown out on Thursday, Rondo brought up the tribute video the Celtics recently made for him.

“At some point, as a human, if no one is going to protect me, I got to protect myself,” said Thomas. “That is when I spoke up and got upset. I hope the NBA figures something out with that, because it was wrong for me to be ejected.”

Though both point guards played for the Celtics, they were never teammates in Boston. Thomas played for the team from 2015-2017, while Rondo played from 2006-2014.

Former Celtics forward Paul Pierce’s No. 34 jersey was retired at TD Garden on Sunday. Thomas’ tribute video was held that same night, and Rondo reportedly questioned what Thomas had accomplished to deserve the homage.

“What has he done?” asked Rondo. When told that Thomas led the the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals last year, Rondo allegedly added, “Oh, that’s what we celebrate around here?”

Clearly, the feud between these two veteran players is not over yet. Thomas’s younger sister died at age 22 in a fatal car crash in April 2017, just as the NBA playoffs were beginning.

The Pelicans (31-26) are eighth in the Western Conference, while the Lakers (23-33) are 11th.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 07: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call in the second half against the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Isaiah Thomas will finally get to play his first game as a Cleveland Cavalier this week.

Isaiah Thomas Injury update news

The Cavs announced Monday that the All-Star guard will make his debut in Tuesday night’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Thomas — who was traded from the Boston Celtics in August as part of a multi-player blockbuster deal that also included Kyrie Irving — has missed Cleveland’s first 36 games of the season due to a hip injury. His previous appearance was in Game 2 of last year’s Eastern Conference Finals, which is when he sustained the injury. It was actually a re-aggravation of a right femoral-acetabular impingement with labral tear he suffered during a March 2017 game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Cavs (24-12) are third in the Eastern Conference, and have lost three straight contests.

Thomas, who will be 29 in February, set career highs with 28.9 points and a shooting percentage of 46.3 in 76 games with the Celtics last season.

On Tuesday, Thomas lashed out at a Boston Bruins reporter on Twitter after the latter criticized the guard’s refusal to let the Celtics honor him with a tribute video in Wednesday night’s game against the Cavs at TD Garden. The owner, Jimmy Murphy, said he believed Thomas is even more pretentious than his new teammate LeBron James, whom Thomas called “the best player in the world” at his introductory press conference in September.

Thomas rapidly explained his decision in an angry retort:

The Cavaliers play in Boston just one more time this season, on Feb. 11. Cleveland trails Boston by four games for first place in the East, and the Toronto Raptors by one game for second.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 07: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call in the second half against the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC.

The Cleveland Cavaliers traded point guard Kyrie Irving to the Boston Celtics in a multi-player blockbuster deal announced Tuesday night that saw the Cavs receive Isaiah Thomas in exchange.

Kyrie Irving Trade News

The Celtics also sent Jae Crowder, 20-year-old Croatian center Ante Zizic — a top prospect in Europe who did not get to play a single regular-season game in Boston — and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 first-round pick to Cleveland as part of the swap.

Boston had already acquired several big-name players this offseason like Gordon Hayward, Marcus Morris and Aron Baynes and traded veteran guard Avery Bradley — who had been with the Celtics since 2010 — to the Detroit Pistons.

Now, many have questioned why the Celtics decided to add Iriving — a four-time All-Star who has been with the Cavs since they drafted him as the No. 1 overall pick out of Duke in 2011 — to their roster, which is also filled with young talent.

Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck explained on Wednesday why the team felt it necessary to acquire Irving, who requested a trade from Cleveland last month amid rumors the point guard felt like he was playing second fiddle to LeBron James. 

“We got bounced pretty hard last year in the playoffs, and then those guys (the Cavs) got bounced pretty hard after that,” Grousbeck told reporters at a “topping off ceremony” at the Celtics’ new training facility in Brighton, Mass. “So, we didn’t feel we were at the top. We didn’t feel we were where we wanted to be, so that’s what you do when you run a team, you do what you have to do to try to get better.”

Grousbeck and Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge seem to be obsessed with Irving, and are hoping adding the 2014 All-Star Game MVP will help Boston win another national title.

“We are really excited about the trade, although it’s bittersweet to let somebody go like IT, let somebody go like Jae,” Grousbeck said. “Kyrie is a transcendent talent, and we are excited to put him together with Gordon Hayward, Al Horford, Marcus Smart. “We want this team to go for Banner 18 and we need to get the best possible players to do that, and that’s what we are trying to do.”

Irving, 25, was initially denied his trade request because the Cavaliers’ front office — which was undergoing personnel changes — said they had not yet found a deal that the franchise would gain from by swapping the veteran point guard. The 2012 NBA Rookie of the Year — who was born in Melbourne, Australia — averaged 25.2 points and 5.8 assists last season in helping the Cavs reach their third straight NBA Finals. Irving also helped lead Cleveland to an NBA championship in 2016.

Thomas, a two-time All-Star who joined the Celtics in 2015, averaged a career-high 28.9 points and 5.9 assists last season while shooting 46.3 percent from the field before a hip injury forced him out of the playoffs. His performance is particularly impressive given his height: the 5-foot-9 point guard is one of the shortest players in the league. Thomas, 28, is set to become a free agent next summer.

According to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated, the Cavs called the defending national champion Golden State Warriors in an attempt to make a play for shooting guard Klay Thompson in exchange for Irving before they agreed to a deal with the Celtics.

Spears later explained on SportsCenter, however, why he believed Cleveland made a strong decision in sending Irving to Boston. Irving has three years and $60.3 million remaining on his contract, which includes a player option for the final season.

The Celtics and Cavaliers are set to face off to open the NBA regular season in Cleveland on Oct. 17.

Caption:CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 10: Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Quicken Loans Arena on February 10, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Lakers 120-111.

Isaiah Thomas did not blame himself for the Boston Celtics‘ 121-102 loss to the Wizards in Washington on Sunday, nor did he say anyone else was at fault, but said the officials and his teammates did not help by being passive.

Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas Criticizes Refs, teammates After Game 4 Loss to Wizards

The All-Star guard, who scored 19 points on 7-of14-shooting in 31 minutes of play, was held to just two points in the second half on Sunday, and said the referees’ lack of calls allowed the Wizards to “hold and grab” him and eventually cost the Celtics the game. Thomas was particularly frustrated at the fact that he wasn’t able to shoot a single free throw, and said the officials were part of the reason why. The point guard said the referees were partially to blame for Washington’s 26-0 burst in the third quarter.

“[The Wizards] were very physical. The refs were allowing them to hold and grab and do all those things,” said Thomas. “I think, especially in that third quarter, I might have hit the ground five or six straight times, and I’m not the one that likes hitting the ground. So I think it got to be called differently.

“I’m not saying that’s the reason we lost. They went on a 26-0 run, and we can’t have that on the road. But I can’t be allowed to be held and grabbed every pin-down, every screen. And I don’t shoot one free throw. I play the same way each and every night. So I think that has to change.”

Here are Thomas’s full comments in the press conference after Game 4 at Verizon Center:

The 28-year-old guard admitted he should have played more aggressively on Sunday as he has in other NBA playoff games, like in Game 2 when his 53 points helped lead Boston to a home victory over Washington. However, Thomas added he was still incensed at the fact that the referees were not calling blatant fouls.

“No matter what, I’ve gotta play the same way,” Thomas said. “So whether I’m getting the calls or not, I’ve gotta be in attack mode, I’ve gotta be aggressive to get in the paint, to make things happen, not just for myself but for my teammates. But I have to put it on the refs to call it. So I’m going to keep attacking and keep being myself no matter if they’re calling it or not. But it does get a little frustrating when you continue to play the same way and there’s nothing being called.”

Thomas, whose younger sister died the eve of the playoffs, also said he was disappointed in his teammates’ lack of confidence and their “shook” demeanor after the loss. The All-Star, who averaged 28.9 points per game last season and is averaging 29.5 points per contest this series, said it was crucial for the Celtics to not become so easily discouraged after missing shots in order to beat the Wizards in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, a series that is now tied 2-2.

“We’ve gotta be confident,” Thomas said. “For whatever reason today, there were guys with their heads down after missing shots. We’re getting the right shots. If you miss then just continue to shoot. We have to remain confident.”

The point guard continued: “You’ve gotta step into it and shoot it like you just made three in a row. This is not the time to be shook,” he said. “This is not the time to shy away from the opportunity. This is the time to take advantage of it. If you’re open, we expect you to make it and shoot it with confidence.”

Game 5 is Wednesday night (8 pm EST) in Boston.

San Antonio Spurs and Houston are also tied 2-2 in the Western Conference Semifinals after the Rockets defeated the Spurs 125-104 at Toyota Center on Sunday. Game 5 is Tuesday night at AT&T Center.

Cleveland remains undefeated in this year’s playoffs, as the Cavaliers beat the Raptors 109-102 in Toronto Sunday to sweep their series 4-0.

The Golden State Warriors, who lead their series against Utah 3-0, will visit the Jazz on Monday night (9 pm EST) for Game 4.

WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 07: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a call in the second half against the Washington Wizards in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals at Verizon Center on May 7, 2017 in Washington, DC.

Isaiah Thomas’s young son stole the show before the Boston Celtics’ 129-119 home victory over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

Isaiah Thomas’s Son Steals Show before Celtics’ Game 2 Win vs Wizards

The 28-year-old guard and his toddler son Jaden sat in a near-empty press conference room prior to the game, and Thomas pretended to be a reporter and asked Jaden what the best strategy to defend Wizards guard John Wall is.

The youngster had an incredibly endearing set of answers to his father’s questions:

“How do you guard John Wall?” Thomas asked.

“I just work hard,” Jaden replied. “I start to guard John Wall every day.”

Isaiah then asked his child a follow-up question: “He’s really fast so what do you have to do to stop him?”

“Get fast shoes and I would catch him,” Jaden said. “I would block his dunk.”

Thomas’s son became the star of another adorable moment when he was spotted doing warm-up drills with the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown before the win at TD Garden, which gave Boston a 2-0 lead in the second round Eastern Conference series.

Clearly, Jaden is very invested in supporting his father’s NBA career.

Thomas scored a playoff career-high 53 points — the second-highest total in Celtics playoff history — in leading the Celtics to Tuesday’s win, which came on what would have been his late sister Chyna’s 23rd birthday. The guard’s younger sister died in a horrific car accident in Washington nearly three weeks ago, just before the playoffs began.

”The least I can do is go out there and play for her,” said Thomas, who spent about four or five hours in the dentist’s chair having work done on the tooth that was knocked out in Game 1. ”I knew once game-time came, my guys would get me going, get me the energy to go out and win a game. There was no way I was sitting out.”

See the rest of the guard’s touching tribute to his sister here:

John Wall contributed 40 points and 13 assists for the Wizards, who will host the Celtics for Game 3 on Thursday.

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.

Fred Hoiberg had no desire to answer a question about Isaiah Thomas’s ball-handling following the Chicago Bulls‘ 108-97 road loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Watch: Bulls’ Fred Hoiberg Storms Out of Press Conference After Isaiah Thomas Question

A reporter asked the second-year Bulls coach if he saw the Celtics guard carrying the ball in Wednesday’s Game 5. Boston leads the first-round series 3-2 after losing the first two games against Chicago.

After being asked the question, Hoiberg curtly replied “No” and stormed out of the media conference.

Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver shared the moment:

The query was likely made as a follow-up to comments Hoiberg made about Thomas after the Bulls’ Game 4 loss to the Celtics on Sunday. The coach praised the All-Star for his performance, noting how particularly impressive Thomas has played given “everything he’s going through,” a reference to the Celtics star having lost his younger sister Chyna to a deadly car accident. However, Hoiberg also said Thomas’s occasional carrying makes it “impossible” to guard him.

“Let me say this: Isaiah Thomas is a helluva player. An unbelievable competitor. He’s a warrior — everything he’s going through right now, he had a helluva game tonight,” Hoiberg said on Sunday. “But when you’re allowed to discontinue your dribble on every possession, he is impossible to guard. He’s impossible to guard. When you’re able to put your hand underneath the ball, and take two or three steps and put it back down, it’s impossible to guard him in those situations.”

The coach was booed for his remarks before Wednesday’s game in Boston.

The question does seem awkward, yet not entirely surprising or unreasonable given Hoiberg’s statement about Thomas from three days prior.

In another strange NBA Playoff press conference moment on Wednesday, Washington point guard John Wall showed up to his post-game interview wearing a cape after the Wizards defeated the Atlanta Hawks 103-99 in Game 5 at Verizon Center. The Wizards lead the first-round series 3-2.

The Wizards next visit the Hawks for Game 6 Friday night, when the Bulls will host the Celtics.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 26: Fred Hoiberg Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the third quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 26, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

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.

In the final seconds of Sunday’s game, short Phoenix Suns rookie Tyler Ulis capitalized on Isaiah Thomas’ turnover to sink a 3-pointer at the buzzer and lift his team to a 109-106 home victory over the Boston Celtics.

Suns’ Tyler Ulis Hits 3-Pointer At Buzzer In Win vs Celtics

Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe tied it at 106 with a reverse layup with four seconds remaining.

The 5-foot-9 Thomas, the NBA’s No. 2 scorer, finished with 35 points but missed a free throw with 11.9 seconds left. He took an inbounds pass from Jae Crowder and the Suns’ Marquese Chriss knocked the ball away.

”He got a hand on it,” said Thomas, a former Sun. ”I thought Jae would get it out quicker than he would. I don’t know if he was looking to see if we had a timeout or I don’t know what he was thinking to do.”

Ulis took the ball and fired his shot as the buzzer sounded.

”I figured it would come down to me having to take a late shot,” he said. ”Not like that, you know, off the steal, but I just shot it with confidence.”

The 21-year-old point guard—a 2016 second-round draft pick out of Kentucky— had 20 points, a career best for the second straight game. Bledsoe added 28 to help Phoenix win three in a row for the first time this season.

Suns coach Earl Watson chest-bumped Ulis near the team’s bench after the 5-foot-10 youngster scored his game-winning 3. His teammates mobbed him.

“Tyler Ulis, no more questions, thank you for coming,” Watson jokingly said at the start of his post-game news conference.

The Celtics were missing usual starters Al Horford (right elbow sprain) and Avery Bradley (right hamstring strain).

Chriss, another Suns rookie, scored 10 points and recorded a career-high five blocked shots along with his one key steal. Alan Williams contributed 11 points and matched his career best with 15 rebounds.

Bledsoe ran for a layup to trim the lead to 105-104 with 13.7 seconds remaining, then Thomas made one of two free throws to put Boston ahead 106-104 and set up the final big shot.

”Obviously, you don’t want to turn it over at that time,” Boston coach Brad Stevens said, ”but those things happen and Ulis made a heck of a shot.”

Crowder scored 16 points, and Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier added 14 points each for the Celtics.

Phoenix led 49-42 at halftime, and by as many as 15 in the third quarter.

The Celtics next visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.

The Suns next face the Washington Wizards on Tuesday in the fourth game of five straight at home.

Isaiah Thomas scored 31 points, including two go-ahead free throws, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 103-99 home victory over the defending NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

Isaiah Thomas, Celtics top LeBron James, Cavs 103-99

With 1:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Celtics trailed by one point when Thomas drove and passed to Avery Bradley, who coolly shot a 3-pointer from the left arc.

Bradley missed 22 of 23 games with a strained Achilles tendon, and then when he returned against Atlanta on Monday he was held to 15 first-half minutes.

Boston’s win overshadowed LeBron James’ seventh triple-double of the season. James recorded 28 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists. Kyrie Irving added 28 points for the Cavs, who lost for the first time when leading at any point in the fourth quarter on the road.

”We just played to win,” Thomas said. ”They’re the No. 1 team in the East. One of the best teams in the NBA, and we just wanted to protect home court and get a win. We did that tonight.”

Jae Crowder contributed 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who led by three entering the fourth quarter before there were six ties and 10 lead changes in the last 12 minutes. Al Horford added nine points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Boston.

Deron Williams, signed by Cleveland earlier this week, scored four points in 24 minutes in his Cavs debut. However, his team was out-rebounded 47-41.

Despite the loss, Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue was satisfied with his team’s effort.

”It was a good game – went down to the wire, shot for shot,” Lue said. ”I.T. made two big shots, Avery made two big shots. We competed, we fought. That’s all you can ask for.”

The crowd at TD Garden Bill Belichick and Floyd Mayweather.

The Cavaliers continue their three-game road trip Friday at Atlanta.

The Celtics have two days before starting a five-game road trip Friday against the Lakers.

BOSTON, MA – MARCH 1: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics takes a shot against Channing Frye #8 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter at TD Garden on March 1, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Boston Celtics won their seventh consecutive game Sunday afternoon, although one of the most memorable shots of the game was scored by a Los Angeles Clippers star who used to play for Boston: Paul Pierce.

PAUL PIERCE FAREWELL

The TD Garden crowd loved both – the Celtics and Pierce – and seemed unsure about who to cheer more for.

Isaiah Thomas somewhat stole the spotlight from Pierce by recording 28 points to lead the Celtics to a 107-102 home win in Pierce’s final game in the Garden.

Thomas backed off Pierce in the final seconds, however, to let the 39-year-old 2008 NBA Finals MVP sink one more basket in the arena he called home for 15 seasons.

”I wanted him to shoot and make it,” Thomas said. ”That would have been the perfect way to go out. He did it the right way.”

The game also marked Pierce’s first appearance for the Clippers since New Year’s Eve, and he played the first five minutes before heading to the bench.

“I’m happy to be able to get one last shot,” Pierce said after coming off the Clippers bench with 19 seconds left and sinking a 3-pointer– his only points of the game– with 11 seconds remaining in Boston’s 107-102 victory. “I’m thankful to step on the court, get one last shot, bury it, give the fans some wave to the crowd, kiss Lucky (the leprechaun logo at mid-court), I’m happy, I’m satisfied. I feel I can put it all to rest now.”

The crowd chanted Pierce’s name in the final minutes, egged on by the Celtics’ cheerleaders and even Thomas. Pierce’s coach, former Celtics head man Doc Rivers, planned to put him back in at the end, but the Clippers turned a thrashing into a close game.

Before the game, Rivers relayed a special message to the Clippers.

”When you finish your career, remember what’s going to happen in five minutes,” Rivers recalled telling them. ”All of you aren’t going to be Hall of Famers, but just remember that when you finish your career, you’re empty and you can walk away with no regrets. That’s what Paul’s doing tonight.”

The Celtics attempted a franchise-record 52 3-pointers (making 16) en route to their win. Boston is thus the second team in NBA history to attempt 30 3-pointers in a half, according to STATS, Inc, as they went 9 of 30 in the first half. The Houston Rockets attempted 30-plus 3-pointers in both halves of the same game on Dec. 16, 2016, against New Orleans.

Boston Celtics 107-102 Los Angeles Clippers… by gs-bn
The Clippers (31-20) next visit Toronto on Monday, while the Celtics (33-18) will visit Sacramento on Wednesday.

MIAMI, FL – DECEMBER 16: Paul Pierce #34 of the LA Clippers reacts to a play during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on December 16, 2016 in Miami, Florida.

The Boston Celtics played a terrible first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum on Tuesday night, but luckily Isaiah Thomas came in to save the day.

Isaiah Thomas Scores Career-High 44, Celtics Edge Grizzlies 112-109 In OT

Thomas helped the Celtics overcome a 17-point second-half deficit en route to a 112-109 overtime road victory over the Grizzlies.

The 27-year-old point guard scored a career-high 44 points, including 36 after halftime. He also matched his career best for 3-pointers, going 7 of 10 from outside the arc, and made all 17 of his free throws. Thomas only turned the ball over once.

”I just told myself to be a little more aggressive and look for my shot a little more,” Thomas said, later adding: ”I wasn’t trying to get 40, but I knew I needed to be more aggressive.”

After the Grizzlies (18-12) gained a 106-105 lead on a rebound basket by Tony Allen with 1:10 remaining in the extra period, the Celtics (16-12) scored the next five points.

Al Horford added 17 points and 14 rebounds for Boston, who won their third straight. Avery Bradley contributed 16 points.

Memphis built a comfortable 45-31 lead in the first half. Then, the Grizzlies seemed to fall apart in the second half.

”Basically, we stayed in the locker room at halftime,” coach David Fizdale said.

Marc Gasol and Troy Daniels led Memphis with 24 points each. Mike Conley had 19 points and eight assists for the Grizzlies, who dropped their third straight– all at home.

Both teams had last-second chances to win in regulation. Gasol’s turnaround 8-footer bounced off the rim with 2 seconds left in regulation. Then with under a second remaining, Horford failed to convert an inbounds pass at the rim, thus forcing overtime at 97-all.

”Coach (Brad Stevens) told us at halftime, `Just stay with it. Stay composed,”’ Horford said. ”We had an awful first half, and he just said, `If you guys stay with it, I guarantee you that you’ll get hot, you’ll get to scoring.’

”We believed, and we kept playing.”

Thomas has led the Celtics in scoring the last three games. For the season, he is now averaging a career-best 26.6 points over 33.3 minutes per game. He ranks seventh in the NBA in scoring, and second in the Eastern Conference behind only Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan (27.9).

The Celtics’s Brad Stevens, at 40, is one of the youngest coaches in the league. Meanwhile, on the other sideline, Vince Carter, at 39-plus the oldest active player in the NBA, came off the bench to play for the Grizzlies.

The Celtics next visit the Indiana Pacers on Thursday, while the Grizzlies will visit the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night. Memphis is 7-0 this season on the second night of back-to-backs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rs4d6IEG5Wc

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.

Isaiah Thomas scored 29 points, and the Boston Celtics rallied from 13 points down in the fourth quarter to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-93 in Minneapolis on Monday night.

isaiah Thomas, Celtics Rally From 13 Down In 4th To Roll Past Timberwolves 99-93

Al Horford added 20 points, six rebounds and five assists for the Celtics, who trailed 81-68 after three. Boston opened the fourth with a 17-0 run to gain the lead and held on to reach its second consecutive win.

”I think give us credit for playing a little harder than them and making them think a little more and getting them uncomfortable,” Thomas said.

Karl-Anthony Towns had 27 points and 18 rebounds for the Timberwolves. Gorgui Dieng added 20 points and 10 rebounds, but Andrew Wiggins was only 5 for 18 and Minnesota scored three points in the first nine minutes of the fourth.

”We laid a damn egg,” said Zach LaVine, who was 4 of 12 from the field and 0 for 7 on 3-pointers.

Boston’s Terry Rozier scored a career-high 12 points and played a key role in the Celtics’ explosion in the first 6 minutes of the fourth.

Though they have typically struggled in the third quarter, the Timberwolves outscored the Celtics 29-26 in that period, only the second time this season that has happened against any of their opponents.

Jonas Jerebko and Rozier opened the fourth with 3-pointers, and Rozier added another long ball and a steal and dunk to push Boston ahead.

Towns was the only player to score for Minnesota in the first 11 minutes of the fourth, converting a three-point play with 5:18 remaining for their first bucket and sinking a 3-pointer with 2:38 left.

The Celtics outscored the Timberwolves 31-12 in the fourth as Minnesota shot 5 for 25.

”They were definitely pressing,” Celtics guard Marcus Smart said. ”Guys were into guys, we were making everything hard. You could definitely tell they were pressing to find a great shot.”

The Wolves also out-rebounded the Celtics 51-39, including 16-6 on the offensive glass. But Minnesota missed eight free throws in total.

”I think we have to play tougher with a lead,” Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said. ”And the big thing for us is to improve and learn.”

The Celtics (8-6) will wrap up their three-game road trip in Brooklyn on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves, (4-9) meanwhile, will begin a three-game trip with a matchup at New Orleans on Wednesday night. This game will see Towns and his former Kentucky teammate Anthony Davis face off against each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlPGr4kM1a8

ATLANTA, GA – APRIL 26: Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics lays in a basket against the Atlanta Hawks in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on April 26, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.