CLEVELAND -- In the aftermath of Sunday's Game 3 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics players initiated a video call with injured teammate Isaiah Thomas from the visitors locker room at Quicken Loans Arena so that Thomas could be a part of the team's celebration.
After Avery Bradley's 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds left rattled home to lift Boston to a 111-108 triumph, Thomas texted all of his teammates with words of praise and support. Gerald Green, one of Thomas' closest friends on the team, then Facetimed Thomas and the locker room roared when an excited Thomas appeared on the screen.
"He's part of our team. He's part of our squad," Kelly Olynyk said. "We wanted to share it with him. He was ecstatic, man. He was as excited as we were."
Celtics guard Marcus Smart, who elevated to Thomas' starting role, scored 27 points and hit seven 3-pointers during Sunday's win. Not known for his scoring outbursts, Smart told Thomas during the call that he tried to do his best Thomas impersonation on the court.
"He was ecstatic. I told him I channeled my inner IT and he kind of laughed a little bit," Smart said. "It felt good. It felt good to see him smile. He's been down with everything he's been going through, and then for him not to be here, I know that hurts him even more. So to see him happy and smiling, it was a good feeling for us."
Thomas was ruled out for the remainder of the postseason on Saturday after aggravating a hip injury in the first half of Friday's Game 2 loss in Boston. Thomas pleaded with team doctors to let him return to the court that night and team sources say he became emotional when he realized his season might be over because of his injury.
Thomas was scheduled to see a hip specialist in New York on Monday, the first step in determining a rehabilitation plan that could include offseason surgery.
On Sunday night, Thomas watched from afar as his team rallied from a 21-point deficit to stun Cleveland. The Cavaliers lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Tuesday night in Cleveland.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens was initially unaware that his players had called Thomas but was greeted by a text from Thomas when he turned on his cellphone after the game.
"One of my first text messages I got was from Isaiah," Stevens said. "He's hurting not being able to be out there, but he's completely invested, that's for sure."
Given the way that Thomas played through massive adversity throughout the postseason and the way he led the Celtics all season, it was important to Boston players to include him in Sunday's postgame euphoria.
"He got to celebrate with us a little bit," Bradley said. "It's just so sad that he's not here. We wish he was here with us and we just want him to get better."
What was Thomas like on the call?
"He was just happy. He was happy. He was excited," Bradley said. "He sent everybody a text. ... It was nice to see a smile on his face. I just wish he was here."