NBA: Celtics' Thomas out for rest of play-offs with hip injury

Boston Celtics' star guard Isaiah Thomas will miss the rest of the Eastern Conference finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers due to injury. PHOTO: USA TODAY SPORTS

(REUTERS) - Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas will miss the remainder of the National Basketball Association (NBA) play-offs after aggravating a hip injury during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, the team announced on Saturday (May 20).

Thomas initially injured his hip in the third quarter of a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 15, forcing the All-Star to miss the next two regular-season contests.

The 28-year-old Thomas aggravated his specific injury - officially labelled as a right feboral-acetabular impingement with labral tear - during Game 6 of the second-round series against the Washington Wizards on May 12.

"Isaiah has worked tirelessly to manage this injury since it first occurred," said Dr Brian McKeon, the Celtics' chief medical officer.

"The swelling increased during the first two games against Cleveland, and in order to avoid more significant long-term damage to his hip, we could no longer allow him to continue."

A femoral-acetabular impingement means that the ball joint in the hip socket is not moving freely around the cup in which it resides.

Thomas did not travel with the team to Cleveland for Game 3 on Sunday. The Cavaliers lead the series 2-0.

Thomas, who averaged 28.9 points per game during the regular season, scored 19 total points in the first two games against Cleveland. Marcus Smart started for Thomas in the second half of Friday's 130-86 defeat by the Cavaliers.

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