Thomas May Be Sidelined Rest of Series : NBA playoffs: Piston guard probably out for Game 2 against Boston because of sprained foot. Bird is day to day.

BOSTON — In a marquee series, the marquee players are getting more attention for their absence than their performance.

Detroit point guard Isiah Thomas, who leads the offense, probably will not play in this afternoon’s Game 2 Eastern Conference semifinal playoff game against the Boston Celtics because of a sprained right foot.

Boston forward Larry Bird, who leads the Celtics, is listed as day to day with back spasms after missing Tuesday’s Game 1, won by the Pistons, 86-75.

Thomas, who missed 32 games during the regular season after surgery on his right wrist Jan. 29 and who was playing with a pulled left hamstring, was hurt with 6:10 to play Tuesday when Boston rookie Dee Brown stepped on his foot. Thomas scored 10 points and had 13 assists in 32 minutes.

It’s “very, very, very, very, very questionable” whether he’ll play today, Detroit Coach Chuck Daly said Wednesday. X-rays were negative, but Thomas did not practice.

“There’s some significant soreness and swelling,” Daly said. He added that Thomas might miss the rest of the series.

Celtic Coach Chris Ford said he doesn’t expect to know if Bird can play until shortly before the game. Bird played through Boston’s first-round series victory over the Indiana Pacers, though he spent some nights after games in a hospital in traction because of a back injury, and Ford did not know of his availability until just before each game.

A bruised bone below his right eye, incurred in Sunday’s series-clinching victory over Indiana, wasn’t expected to sideline Bird, who missed missed Monday’s game because of the back injury.

Back problems caused him to miss 22 games during the regular season.