BOSTON — A quick look at the Celtics’ halftime box score Wednesday would have uncovered a startling statistic.
There was Isaiah Thomas, Boston’s leading scorer this season, with exactly zero points through two quarters against the Chicago Bulls.
That’s pretty out of character of a guy who’s averaging 21 points per game, and as it turns out, Thomas wasn’t quite himself at tipoff.
“First half, honestly, I was a little lightheaded,” Thomas said. “I didn’t have the energy I should have had.”
The 5-foot-9 point guard admitted the Celtics’ training staff gave him “energy packs” and plenty of Gatorade at halftime to help him get back to normal.
Apparently that strategy worked. Thomas went off for 20 points in the second half, hitting five of his last 12 shots and going a perfect 8-for-8 from the line to help Boston stave off Chicago down the stretch.
“I just tried to let the game come to me, and in the second half just be a little more aggressive and be myself,” Thomas said of his late-game rejuvenation. “I saw some openings, and my teammates kept giving me confidence, saying ‘We need you,’ and I just went from there.”
Thomas may have been out of sorts in the first half, but his confidence never waned. When asked if he’d believe someone who told him at halftime he’d finish with 20 points, Thomas didn’t hesitate.
“Yup. Always.”
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— Jared Sullinger is gobbling up rebounds at a career-best rate, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Sullinger recorded his seventh double-double of the season Wednesday, tallying 10 points and 16 rebounds. He now has 36 rebounds in his last two games, the most he’s ever had over a two-game span.
“He’s all over the glass, and that’s against really long players,” head coach Brad Stevens said of Sullinger. “… They’ve got him by a few inches, but he’s really doing a good job of getting position, and when the ball hits his hands, it sticks.”
Sullinger had a bit more colorful explanation, When asked about his rebounding success, the 265-pound forward decided to thank his mother for bestowing him with a certain, er, physical trait.
“That’s another blessing my mom gave me,” he said. “She gave me her booty.”
— Sullinger’s quote might be the best of the night, but when it comes to the Celtics, Evan Turner never is far behind. Here’s Turner explaining his impressive 360 dunk during the nationally-televised contest:
“That was dope. … I said, ‘Why not?’ Last (season) we never had any national TV games; this (season) I just wanted to show ESPN we appreciate it. We have highlights here.”
— The Celtics’ box score was an amazing display of balance.
The team put eight players in double figures, as only James Young and Jonas Jerebko — who both didn’t score — were the only Celtics without 10 points or more.
“I think that’s who we have to be,” Stevens said. “There’s going to be nights where Isaiah goes off. Avery (Bradley)’s going to shoot it a lot better on most nights. But we’ve got to be a team that spreads it around for us to be good.”
— Guard Marcus Smart, who has been out since Nov. 20 with a left knee injury, still isn’t participating in basketball activities, according to Stevens.
“There’s no update on Marcus that I’ve been given,” he said. “I saw him (Tuesday), he was lifting, he was moving around, but no cutting on the court, none of that stuff.”
— R.J. Hunter missed his second consecutive game Wednesday with a strained hip flexor, but Stevens said the rookie’s injury is just a “muscular thing” and he expects Hunter back “really soon.”
Thumbnail photo via David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports Images
