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Celtics FaceTimed 'ecstatic' Isaiah into locker room after Game 3 win

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

Isaiah Thomas didn't travel to Cleveland with his Boston Celtics teammates for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday, having been ruled out for the remainder of the postseason due to a hip injury. But he was beamed into the victor's locker room, via FaceTime on Gerald Green's phone, after the Celtics pulled off the stunning upset over the Cavaliers.

Far from feeling jealous, or salty, or left out, Thomas basked in the celebration as gleefully as anyone else, according to his teammates.

"He's part of our team. He's part of our squad," said Celtics big man Kelly Olynyk, according to ESPN's Chris Forsberg. "We wanted to share it with him. He was ecstatic, man. He was as excited as we were."

Point guard Marcus Smart, who stepped into Thomas' role and exploded for 27 points while shooting 7-of-10 from 3-point range in the game, saw that exact same emotion in Thomas.

"He was ecstatic. I told him I channeled my inner IT and he kind of laughed a little bit," Smart said. "It felt good. It felt good to see him smile. He's been down with everything he's been going through, and then for him not to be here, I know that hurts him even more. So to see him happy and smiling, it was a good feeling for us."

"It's just so sad that he's not here," said Thomas' backcourt mate Avery Bradley, who played hero with a game-winning 3-ball just before the buzzer. "We wish he was here with us and we just want him to get better. ...

"It was nice to see a smile on his face. I just wish he was here."

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