BOSTON — Jimmy Butler had 30 points and nine rebounds and the Chicago Bulls outlasted Boston 106-102 in Game 1 on Sunday on an emotional night for grieving Celtics star Isaiah Thomas.
Playing a day after 22-year-old sister Chyna Thomas was killed in a car accident in their home state of Washington, Thomas led the top-seeded Celtics with 33 points.
Butler scored 23 points in the second half. Bobby Portis finished with 19 for the Bulls.
Al Horford had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for Boston.
Game 2 in the first-round series is Tuesday night in Boston.
Neither team had more than a two-possession lead until Butler made three free throws with 4 minutes to play make it 95-88. Butler scored 10 straight points to put the Bulls back in front early in the fourth, the first of three lead changes in the fourth quarter.
Later, Thomas had a scary moment when he was hit on his left hand on a 3-point attempt before landing awkwardly on it. After a quick visit to the trainer, he calmly made all three free throws.
It was part of a stretch in which he scored seven straight points.
Celtics fans rallied behind Thomas, showering him with a deafening cheer when he was introduced.
Still, Thomas appeared to be a little emotional at the start of the game, badly missing his first free throw short off the front rim. He wasn’t the only Boston player a little off their game in the first half.
Boston’s second unit started the second quarter 1 for 7 from the field and was outscored 10-0 to surrender the Celtics’ first-quarter lead.
The Bulls had their moments of fallibility as well.
Late in the second quarter Wade intercepted an errant pass by Thomas, but got hung on the front of the rim as he attempted a dunk on the fast break.
It was unclear if Thomas would play Sunday, and prior to the game TNT’s cameras captured teammate Avery Bradley comforting Thomas on the bench during the pregame shootaround. But Thomas led the team out of the tunnel when Boston took the floor for pregame warmups. He looked toward the rafters just before the tip-off.
On his shoes were written “Chyna” and “I love you.”
Condolences have poured in from around the league, from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and various players and friends. Thomas, in his sixth season, grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and starred at the University of Washington.
“He’s struggling,” Stevens said before the game. “Obviously, it’s tragic circumstances that he and his family are going through right now. Our thoughts, first and foremost are with them…We’ve talked a little bit last night and then again today (that) as he goes through it and if he feels like he needs to not (play) — then whatever he wants.”
In the locker room prior to the game, emotions among Thomas’ teammates were raw.
Center Al Horford, who touted the opportunity to play alongside Thomas as one of the main reasons he decided to sign with Boston as a free agent this past summer, said everyone is just trying to give him space right now. He expected Sunday’s game to be an emotional experience for his teammate.
“It has to be,” Horford said. “Isaiah is a very strong man and none of us have any idea what he’s going through or feeling. The fact that he’s even here is just a lot of credit to him. It’s a difficult time, but we’re here for him and we’re going to go out and compete and play hard.”
Forward Tyler Zeller said they just want to try to make his basketball world as easy as possible right now.
“He’s the reason we are where we are,” Zeller said. “He’s had an unbelievable season and he’s our No. 1…We’re gonna go out and help him out in any way.”
The Bulls were among the first NBA teams to release a statement of condolence for Thomas on Saturday. Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said he expected what is usually a high-energy Boston arena to be filled with even more emotion Sunday.
“It’s a horrible tragedy,” Hoiberg said. “He just seems like such a good kid, and obviously he’s one of the great competitors we have in our league. … It’s just awful what happened.”
Golden State’s Kevin Durant talked about Thomas after the Warriors’ Game 1 victory over Portland.
“We’re all praying for him, the NBA family’s behind him,” Durant said.
TIP-INS
Bulls: Outrebounded the Celtics 32-16 in the first half, including 16 offensive rebounds.
Celtics: Were 18 for 45 from the field in the first half.