National Basketball Association roundup

[April 18, 2017]  April 17 (The Sports Xchange) - Boston Celtics star Isaiah Thomas plans to play on Tuesday in Game 2 of the first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Chicago Bulls as he continues to mourn from a family tragedy.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens said Thomas will fly to his home state of Washington after the game to help complete funeral arrangements for his sister, Chyna Thomas, who was killed in a car crash Saturday outside Tacoma, Wash.

"His plan, as of right now -- and, again, subject to him changing if he wants -- is that he'll be here (Tuesday) night and then will go to Tacoma after," Stevens told reporters Monday. "So either after the game (Tuesday) night or Wednesday morning."

Thomas played through tears Sunday and scored 33 points in the Celtics' 106-102 playoff-opening loss against the Bulls -- a day after his 22-year-old sister died in a single-car accident on Interstate 5 in Federal Way, Wash.

The Celtics have two days off before Game 3 Friday night against the Bulls in Chicago and Stevens suggested the entire team would make an effort to attend the memorial services.

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LeBron James offered his condolences to a grieving Isaiah Thomas.

James conveyed his sympathy after Monday morning's shootaround before Game 2 of the series against the Indiana Pacers.

"My deepest sympathy and prayers goes up to him and his mother, his father, whoever is in his life. I'm not quite sure who's in his life," James told reporters in Cleveland.

"Had to be a tough situation for him, just going out and playing a game and obviously who cares about the game? That's so silly to even think about basketball when something like that tragic happens.

"He obviously is a strong-willed guy. I got to know him the last couple years. It's unfortunate something like that has happened at a time like this. Obviously our world is kind of revolved around basketball, but like I said, who cares about basketball when something like that happens?"

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Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert will be sidelined for Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series against the host Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

The 24-year-old Gobert, a 7-foot-1 center from France, sustained a hyperextended left knee only 11 seconds into the series opener, which the Jazz rallied to win 97-95 on Saturday.

"Gobert's status going forward will be determined game by game," the Tribune said. "The Jazz big man is walking without crutches, which is encouraging. At the same time, healing the knee is expected to take some time."

Derrick Favors, who had 15 points and six rebounds for the Jazz in Game 1, is expected to replace Gobert in the starting lineup. ))

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