Update: The NBA has announced that Isaiah Thomas will not be suspended for hitting Hawks’ guard Dennis Schroder in the first quarter of Game 3, per Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver.
Advertisement
He may, indeed, have taken the message too literally, taking a swing at Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder that may earn him disciplinary action from the league office.
Budenholzer said he expects the league will review the incident, but Thomas said he wasn’t concerned, adding it was unintentional.
The Boston Celtics hope to even up their series with the Atlanta Hawks when they collide tonight at 6PM ET in Game 4. “I was just trying to do what I could to win the game”, Thomas said according to ESPN, following a spectacular offensive showing. That’s what it’s about. If the series goes to 6 or 7 games there may be a possibility that we see Avery Bradley again, and I’m nearly certain that Kelly Olynyk will have returned by then.
In other league news Saturday, the Celtics’ Marcus Smart was fined $5,000 for violating the anti-flopping rule.
Unlike their previous win against the Atlanta Hawks, Sunday’s was a team victory for the Boston Celtics.
Game 4 of this Eastern Conference first-round series was a delightful display of playoff basketball, taut, tense, and raucous.
“It’s tough at 0-3”, the Pistons coach said. Soon after the slap, Schroder retaliated with a hard foul on Thomas, which led to a semi-scuffle between the two players. But I think the Celtics have some momentum now, a more efficient offensive game-plan, and unlike Atlanta – a home crowd that can actually have a strong impact on a game as they showed in Game 3.
“We’re happy he’ll be around tomorrow, no question about that”, Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. The matchup will end a two road trip for Atlanta and a two game homestand for Boston. Commenting on the next game, Thomas said with a smile, “My aim will be to score career high 43 in our next game”. The bottom line is Thomas needs to control his emotions during these games.
Thomas then tied the game with a drive with 15 seconds left.
The 10-year veteran was on fire in the first half, dropping 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the Hawks seized a 48-46 lead.
In other words, “They put the shorter guy on me after I was already gassed from crushing everyone else”. Just listen to the confidence with which he proclaims it.
While their potential All-NBA forward, who led the NBA in defensive win shares with a truly rare campaign in terms of all-around effectiveness, contributes in a variety of ways when he’s not scoring the ball, his 12 combined points in Games 2 and 3 were inexplicable. His success rate dipped to 25.3% from three-point land, the worst of any player who attempted more than 200 triples on the year.
“He deserves a lot of credit for that performance”, said Stevens. Thomas and Schroder were hit with double technical fouls for their verbal exchange, and Schroder didn’t shy away from making his feelings known after the game. Only Kyle Korver (10 points on 11 shots) and Jeff Teague (13 on a horrendous 4 for 18 night) were able to join him in double-figures. At some point I probably have to give him a little leash. “But just to really stop and make it hard for him, pressure him and really contest every shot that he took”.
The Hawks went on a quick run to begin the third quarter that opened up the biggest lead of the game. Millsap’s 45 was one off his career high, but he went scoreless in overtime.
“We try to play the right way”, he said.
Advertisement
Brooklyn Nets hired Kenny Atkinson as their head coach, who had a good relationship with Horford, and expected to be the instrument in luring Al Horford to sign and play for the team.
