The NBA evidently agreed with Isaiah Thomas’s claim that his smack of Dennis Schröder in Game 3 (during which he also exploded for a career-high 42 points) was purely accidental.
.@StuJackson32 joins the #GameTime crew to discuss the possibility of a suspension for Isaiah Thomas… https://t.co/J5vyfRDYWt
— NBA TV (@NBATV) April 23, 2016
A relieved Thomas scored 28 points in Game 4 Sunday, helping the Boston Celtics even up their first round Playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks at 2-2, despite a 45-point night from Paul Millsap.
Game 5 is Tuesday night in Atlanta.
Per the Boston Herald:
“It was the right call,” said Thomas, who instead received a Flagrant 1 foul for the first-quarter incident, after already receiving a double technical foul along with Schroder on Friday night. “I’m really focused on Game 4, but I’m glad I wasn’t suspended. It was definitely (accidental).”
Though a number of Celtics types breathed a lot easier once the league called team president Danny Ainge with the news — he’s the one who informed Thomas of the decision — the guard maintained his calm. […] “Nah, because I knew what I did,” he said when asked if he was concerned. “The replay, in a slower version, it’s going to look like I looked at him and tried to hit him. If I try to hit somebody, I would’ve hit him. I know cameras are watching. I didn’t do it on purpose. But I’m just glad I wasn’t suspended and I can help my team in Game 4.”
A disappointed Schroder certainly thought he wouldn’t be facing Thomas tonight in Game 4 and said yesterday that he felt “disrespected.” The young guard was angry enough to post an emotional postgame tweet that he later took down. […] “I felt bad (Friday) night and tweeted stuff and took it down because I thought about it,” he said. “I just try to get over it and try to win (tonight), like I said. I decided (to delete the tweet). I think it was a good decision, but I still feel disrespected what he did. I’ll still try to win the game (tonight) and focus on the game.”
