After losing his tooth in Game 1 of the Celtics’ second round playoff series against the Wizards, Isaiah Thomas started nailing shots. This wasn’t lost on Thomas’ coach, Brad Stevens, who offered a possible explanation.
“Maybe that tooth was holding him back a little,” Stevens said in the post-game press conference after the Celtics emerged victorious, 123-111. The Celtics started the game by spotting the Wizards a 16-point lead, but chipped away in the second quarter. Meanwhile, Thomas lost his tooth after taking an elbow to the face.
Eventually, Thomas (and the Celtics) were able to overcome the adversity, storming back to grab the series opener.