Celtics' Danny Ainge To Boston Herald: 'Isaiah Thomas Does Not Have A Broken Jaw'
BOSTON (CBS) -- It was reported on Friday morning that Isaiah Thomas is playing with a broken jaw, but the Boston Celtics are refuting that report.
"I have not heard anything about that. If that was the case then I know nothing about that," Celtics head coach Brad Stevens told reporters on a conference call. "Obviously, he's got the tooth issue and it affected a couple of his teeth there in that row. But I have heard nothing about a fractured jaw. Obviously, that would be really concerning."
Celtics president of basketball ops. Danny Ainge later told The Boston Herald's Mark Murphy that Thomas "does not have a broken jaw."
Danny Ainge: "Isaiah does not have a broken jaw." Said IT had temporary bridge repaired last night. Will need permanent bridge after season.
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) May 5, 2017
It's clear that Thomas is playing through some pain ever since he had a tooth knocked out in Sunday's Game 1 against the Wizards. The Celtics guard underwent nearly 10 hours of oral surgery in the days leading up to Game 2 of the series, and his temporary teeth were knocked out during Thursday night's Game 3 loss in the nation's capital.
Thomas landed hard on his mouth in Game 2 and missed the start of the second half on Thursday night to get his temporary chompers put back in. He finished Boston's Game 3 loss with just 13 points in 29 minutes, and told reporters that he was done visiting the dentist until after the playoffs.
Boston owns a 2-1 series lead over the Wizards, with Game 4 set for Sunday night at 6:30 pm at the Verizon Center.