Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade eyes the loose ball as Boston Celtics guards Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart, top, land on the floor during the fourth quarter of a first-round NBA playoff basketball game in Boston, Tuesday, April 18, 2017. The Bulls defeated the Celtics 111-97 and take a 2-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade eyes the loose ball as Boston Celtics guards Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Smart, top, land on the floor during the fourth quarter of a first-round NBA playoff basketball game in Boston, Tuesday, April 18, 2017. The Bulls defeated the Celtics 111-97 and take a 2-0 lead in the series. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Credit: Charles Krupa

Boston — Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas said the days since his younger sister was killed in a car crash have been the hardest of his life. He’s also expressing thanks for the support he has received around the NBA.

Thomas’ comments, released in a team statement on Wednesday, are his first public ones since 22-year-old Chyna Thomas died in a crash early on Saturday outside of Tacoma, Wash. The All-Star guard said the pain he is feeling “is impossible to put into words,” though he expressed gratitude to his fans, the city of Boston, the Celtics organization and the NBA community.

Thomas played in the first two games of the Celtics’ first-round playoff series with the Bulls, then flew to Washington state to be with his family on Wednesday. No funeral plans have been announced.

He is expected to rejoin the team on Friday for Game 3 in Chicago.

Celtics guard Marcus Smart was fined $25,000 by the NBA for making an obscene gesture during Boston’s first-round Game 2 loss to Chicago.

The league did not release video of the incident in announcing the fine on Wednesday, but TNT’s cameras appeared to show Smart giving someone the middle finger after missing a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter Tuesday night.

Boston coach Brad Stevens said during a conference call earlier in the day that he was aware of the video, but he couldn’t tell exactly what Smart was doing in it. Stevens added that “if he made a gesture, it’s inappropriate,” and said he expected it would be handled by the league.

Smart played 27 minutes in the 111-97 loss, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Wednesday’s Games

Rockets 115, Thunder 111

Houston— James Harden scored 35 points and Houston overcame 51 points from Russell Westbrook in a triple-double, clawing back from a double-digit deficit for a victory over Oklahoma City to take a 2-0 lead in the first-round Western Conference playoff series.

Westbrook set a franchise playoff scoring record and added 13 assists and 10 rebounds in the most points ever scored in a postseason triple-double. It was the sixth career playoff triple-double for Westbrook, who had an NBA-record 42 in the regular season.

But the Rockets contained him long enough in the fourth quarter to surge ahead, then hold on.

Game 3 is on Friday night in Oklahoma City.

The game was tied before Houston scored 10 straight points with 3-pointers from Harden, Patrick Beverley and Eric Gordon to make it 114-104 with 1:22 remaining.

Wizards 109, Hawks 101

Washington — In a rough-and-tumble, foul-filled game, Bradley Beal took over in the fourth quarter with 16 of his 31 points, including a key late 3-pointer, helping Washington beat Atlanta for a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

John Wall earned chants of “M-V-P!” while finishing with 32 points and nine assists, including the dish to Beal for his shot from beyond the arc with 38 seconds remaining that sealed the win for the hosts.

Washington, which trailed 78-74 entering the final period, won despite only a combined seven points from starting forwards Markieff Morris and Otto Porter Jr., who were both in foul trouble early.

The series now shifts to Atlanta for Game 3 on Saturday.

Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder scored 23 points.