Isaiah Thomas On Sprained Ankle: 'I'm Ready For Game 6'
BOSTON (CBS) -- A blowout loss to the Hawks looked much worse when Isaiah Thomas, the Celtics' leading scorer, limped off the court in the fourth quarter on Tuesday night.
But breathe easy, Celtics fans. Thomas said after the game he's not missing Thursday night's must-win Game 6 in Boston.
Thomas left Boston's 110-83 loss Tuesday night midway through the fourth quarter with a mild left ankle sprain and did not return. He came up hobbled after landing awkwardly on a drive to the basket, and ran to the Boston locker room on the next stoppage of play.
The always-confident Thomas sounded ready to suit up again when talking to reporters after the game.
"I'm great. I'm ready for Game 6," Thomas said, adding that he also tweaked the ankle during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Game 4. "I'll play no matter what. I'm not going to sit out."
Head coach Brad Stevens wouldn't comment on whether or not the injury could keep Thomas from Thursday's Game 6 in Boston. To add a little more sting to the situation, which occurred when Boston was down 93-64 with 10:30 left in the game, Stevens said there was a sub waiting at the table to go in for Thomas.
Thomas didn't play particularly well before getting hurt. He saw constant double teams from the Hawks defense and was held scoreless in the first half, finishing the night with just seven points on 3-of-12 shooting in 29 minutes.
The Boston guard has averaged 24 points per game for the series, with a career-high 42 points in Boston's Game 3 win last Friday.
The Celtics better hope Thomas is at 100 percent by Thursday if they want to extend the series to a decisive Game 7 in Atlanta on Saturday night.