Isaiah Thomas’s 53-point performance in Game 2 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Washington Wizards stands as one of the most emotional and unforgettable moments in NBA playoff history. Reflecting on the game during a conversation on the “Knuckleheads” podcast, Thomas shared the profound impact that his sister’s death had on him and how it influenced his performance that night.
“So that game was crazy because as you guys know, my sister, my little sister passed away like a month before that. So tragic, tragic car accident. So I was going through a hell of shit.”
“Like obviously I was injured at that point in time as well, going through my family stuff and it happened to be her birthday that day, which was crazy because. It was one of the weirdest moments of my life on the basketball court, it was one of the moments where I didn’t hear s**t, like it was like I was on the court by myself.”
“I felt like I was just in the gym by myself, just shooting back at the YMCA in Tacoma, Washington, doing s**t I used to do when I was like 13, 14 years old. Have you ever seen the movie Six Man? It felt like that.”
“It felt like my sister was just there, just every shot going in. every move going in, I’m just going by guys, like not even doing even good moves, just they just letting me go by.”
“It just felt like she was there helping me. Like that was inspiring for myself. I can’t even describe those moments because that was like, I was going through some real s**t.”
"It was one of the weirdest moments of my life on the basketball court. I didn't hear sh*t. I felt like I was in the gym by myself… It felt like my sister was just there, just every shot going in, she was putting it in… It just felt like she was there helping me… I can't… pic.twitter.com/uXDqTL3iFp
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 28, 2024
The game played on May 2, 2017, occurred just weeks after the tragic death of Thomas’s younger sister, Chyna, who had passed away in a car accident. The game took on even more significance as it fell on what would have been Chyna’s 23rd birthday. The weight of grief, combined with the physical pain of playing through injuries, made his 53-point outing even more remarkable.
Thomas described the surreal experience of that game, explaining how he felt disconnected from the crowd and the external world, almost as if he were alone on the court. The emotional and mental state that Thomas found himself in was unlike anything he had experienced before. He likened it to a scene from the movie “Sixth Man,” where a character is seemingly guided by a supernatural presence.
The game itself was a masterpiece of scoring, resilience, and determination. Thomas shot 18-of-33 from the field, including 5-of-12 from beyond the arc, and added 4 rebounds and 4 assists to his 53 points. His performance was not just a display of his basketball prowess, but a tribute to his sister and a testament to the strength he drew from her memory. The Celtics needed every bit of his scoring to secure the 129-119 overtime victory over the Wizards.
Thomas’s extraordinary night was a cathartic release of emotions that had been building up since his sister’s tragic passing. It was a moment where the line between personal tragedy and professional responsibility blurred, resulting in one of the most iconic playoff performances in NBA history.
Isaiah Thomas’s 53-point game remains a poignant reminder of how sports can serve as both an escape and a platform for expressing profound grief. His performance that night was more than just a game; it was a deeply personal homage to his sister and a demonstration of the resilience of the human spirit.
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