Isaiah Thomas flew in at 4am yesterday and still led the Celtics to victory


At 4am yesterday morning, while the city of Boston was asleep, Isaiah Thomas was just getting off a plane at Logan Airport after taking a red-eye flight back to Boston following his sister Chyna's funeral in his hometown of Tacoma, Washington. The tipoff for game 1 against the Washington Wizards was just 9 hours away and no one would fault Isaiah for not being his usual self come game-time given the emotional weight of the weekend and the whirlwind travel schedule he had to endure just get back to Boston in time.

Not only did Thomas show up ready to play, but he was every bit of his usual self being the centerpiece of the Celtics' offensive attack and led them to a 123-111 victory. The game started about as bad as the C's could've possibly imagined as the Wizards jumped out to a 16-0 lead before the Celtics finally recorded a basket almost 4 minutes into the game when Thomas got himself to the free-throw line for the 1st time.

Moments later, after getting one of his front teeth knocked on an errant Otto Porter elbow, Thomas got the Celtics offense rolling knocking down back-to-back threes bringing the Garden crowd to life. When the Celtics were at their worst it was Thomas who yet again propped them back up.


Thomas would finish the day with 33 points and 9 assists and finally broke out of the three-point shooting slump that plagued him last series against Chicago going 5 for 11 and shooting 45.5% from the outside.

After the game Celtics big man Al Horford was in awe of what Thomas was able to do given all he's been through this weekend. Via Jay King of MassLive:

"It was unreal," added big man Al Horford. "Everything that was going on for him off the court and for him to still be able to function at this level, just strong character, his will is very impressive. I don't know if I would have been able to handle it in that way. He's able to come in here and say no excuses but he has a perfectly good excuse."

Isaiah gave the eulogy at his sister's funeral just a day previous, and in it he mentioned that everything he does in life from this point on he's going to do for her:


As great as his performance on the basketball court was yesterday Isaiah will do her proud just based on his character and the way he carries himself. The guy is a total class act and him putting the Celtics on his back yet again under those circumstances is just the latest example of him rising to the occasion.


On a lighter note:




Photo Credit - Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images

Follow Mark on Twitter: @MarkAL401


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