BOSTON - Doc Rivers needed some extra time to gather himself after Wednesday's game against the Celtics.
But his emotions had nothing to do with the fact that the Clippers had just lost to the Celtics in overtime.
During the game, it was announced that former Pelicans head coach and current Thunder head coach Monty Williams' wife, Ingrid, had passed away due to a car accident. She was hit head-on by a car that crossed over into her lane.
The Rivers' and the Williams' are very close and have been for a long time. Williams even drafted Doc's son, Austin.
Rivers was not told of the news until Wednesday's game was over. After some time, he emerged from a room still clearly upset.
Not really wanting to talk about basketball, but also not being able to find the right words to say about the news, Rivers answered questions about the game before closing with his remarks on the Williams family.
"Monty Williams and his wife Ingrid - I've known them since I was married," a somber River said. "So I don't know if - there's no words, there really isn't. I am heartbroken. I'm sick to death. Once again it puts this stuff we do in perspective. This is awful. Obviously our love and support and all that, but sometimes that doesn't seem fair. There's no better human being in the world than Monty and Ingrid and for this to happen, sometimes you question everything and this is one of those times for me at least."