Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he would let Thomas decide when or if he wants to return to the Seattle area to be with his family.

Chyna Thomas, 22, was killed early Saturday morning in Federal Way, Wash., when her Toyota Camry veered off Interstate 5 and struck a cement barrier and a large signpost, according to Washington State Patrol spokesman Nick King.

Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas scored 33 points in his team’s 106-102 Game 1 playoff loss to the Bulls on Sunday night following the Saturday death of his sister. And afterward, there was little clarity about Isaiah’s status moving forward.


“Whatever he needs to do, he needs to do, and we’ll help in any way,” Stevens said. “If he needs to and wants to stay here, then we’ll be here surrounding him. And if he wants to go to Seattle, then he should go to Seattle. It’s his call, and should be.”

Stevens said he would not ask Thomas about his plan. He would let Thomas come up with a final decision on his own time.

“And then we’ll adjust accordingly,” Stevens said.

The Celtics are scheduled to watch film together on Monday afternoon and Game 2 of the series will be played at TD Garden on Tuesday before the teams head to Chicago for Friday’s Game 3.

Sunday was an emotional, difficult day for Thomas, who did not speak to reporters after the game.

“He is struggling,” Stevens said before the game. “Obviously, it’s tragic circumstances that he and his family are going through right now, and our thoughts are first and foremost with all of them. We’ve talked a little bit last night and then again today about as he goes through it, and if he feels like he needs to not [play], then whatever he wants. I think that one of the things that I’ve learned having been through situations in the past, is that there’s really no right or wrong answer. It’s whatever’s right for him. That’s what we’ve encouraged him. And he’s really hurting. It’s a tough situation.”


Stevens visited with Thomas on Saturday evening. Gerald Green, who is perhaps Thomas’s closest friend on the team, sat at his locker with tears in his eyes prior to Sunday’s game.

“It’s a tragedy, man. I don’t even know how to say it,” Green said. “It’s just something we’re going to have to just get through. I.T. is one of my closest friends in the league and I’m here for him. It’s definitely going to motivate me to get through this postseason. I’m playing this postseason for him, man, I really am. Everything I do, I’m laying it all on the line for him, because I know he’s here today through a tough time. A lot of guys probably wouldn’t even have done that, and he’s here today. That just shows you what type of man he is.”

Celtics center Tyler Zeller said the team is aware of being there to support Thomas while also giving him his space if he needs it. He said there was no blueprint for how to handle a situation like this one.

“You see grandparents [pass away] or something like that, which is obviously very, very difficult,” Zeller said. “But a 22-year-old girl who dies in a car crash is extremely surprising, and it’s going to hit you harder than anything, because it’s so surprising. It’s difficult, and we’re all going to go out and play for him, and help him out in any way possible.”


Stevens said that when he was at church on Sunday morning, many people came up and asked him how Thomas was doing.

“I don’t think there’s any question that people around here have a great affinity for him,” Stevens said. “And we’ve all, even in my short time here, when you see that really tough things happen to people, this community really rallies around them. So you can already feel that.”

CJ Gunther/EPA

In addition to being comforted and consoled by his teammates, Thomas received an outpouring of support from around the NBA, including from the Celtics’ opponent in this first-round series, the Bulls.

“We compete against each other, but it is a brotherhood,” Chicago guard Dwyane Wade said. “I’m sure everyone will have their moment to say something to him. As competitors, we understand that whenever something is going wrong in our life, the best place to be is on this basketball court for those two, two-and-a-half hours. That’s where his mind is going to be the clearest.”

Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @adamhimmelsbach.