2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Day 17: Isaiah Thomas’ career night, Warriors feast inside

On day 17 of 2017 NBA Playoffs Roundup, Isaiah Thomas submits a legendary Game 2 performance against the Wizards and the Warriors feast inside on the Jazz.

Three conference semifinals series are starting to look like one-sided affairs in the 2017 NBA Playoffs, but the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards matchup has been far more entertaining than the 2-0 series count indicates.

In Game 2 Tuesday night, Isaiah Thomas submitted a legendary performance in front of a roaring TD Garden, made all the more memorable because it came on the 23rd birthday of his sister, who recently died in a tragic car accident.

Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors coasted to a Game 1 win over the Utah Jazz on a night where they weren’t even at their best — a sign of strength for the Dubs, and a seriously daunting one for the Jazz.

As we advance deeper into the postseason, we’ll be taking a look back on what stood out from each night of playoff action. Here’s our Day 17 roundup.

IT’s Legendary Night

Game 2 felt like a replay of Game 1. The Boston Celtics trailed by 14 at the end of the first quarter, just like they did in Game 1. They feasted on Washington’s horrible bench to climb back in the game in the second quarter, just like they did in Game 1. And despite trailing big, they wound up winning by double digits, just like they did in Game 1.

In the series opener, it was a barrage of Celtics three-pointers that did the Wizards in. In Game 2, it was the smallest warrior on the court scoring the second-most points in franchise history.

With a playoff career-high of 53 points, Isaiah Thomas was everything his team needed him to be in its attempt to protect home-court. He went 18-for-33 from the floor, made five of 12 three-pointers, sank 12 of his 13 free throws and added in four assists, four rebounds and three steals for good measure.

But even in a 50-point performance, IT’s impact somehow still extended beyond the numbers. The King of the Fourth absolutely took over down the stretch, wrestling the title of Game 2 hero firmly away from John Wall, who had dominated through the first three quarters.

In the fourth quarter and overtime, IT put up 29 points to will his team to victory. His free throws with 14.4 seconds left tied the game to force OT, and his three-point play over Markieff Morris in the extra period put him up to the half-century mark, providing Boston with a six-point cushion with just over a minute to play.

Supplying dagger after dagger, Thomas left the Wizards wondering what they did wrong after blowing two perfectly good opportunities to steal a game on the road. Considering all he’s going through right now, what we’ve seen from the 5’9″ All-Star has been nothing short of legendary for a franchise that’s produced its fair share of unforgettable moments.