Celtics
“This is ridiculous. You can’t miss this.”
Jayson Tatum (right) and Giannis Antetokounmpo. (LEFT). Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images
Jayson Tatum fell to the ground in pain after landing on Giannis Antetokounmpo’s foot in the third quarter of Boston’s 113-107 win over the Bucks on Sunday night.
Tatum, who rose for a corner 3-pointer, landed on one of Antetokounmpo’s feet, appearing to roll his ankle.
He managed to finish the game, but he visibly upset as cameras showed him speaking to a manager shortly after.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla Wasn’t happy about it either.
“It’s ridiculous. You can’t miss it,” Mazzulla said with a shrug. “You can’t miss this.”
Tatum finished with a double-double of 31 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Celtics erase an 11-point halftime deficit. He made 13 of 15 free throws and had six assists against five turnovers.
“He didn’t let that affect the rest of the game, on either end of the floor,” Mazzulla said. “The referees did a great job, they knew they were missing it and any time you can have that relationship with them and they did that, you move on.”
“But it’s something that needs to be (called out),” he added. “He’s injured his ankle before and that could have got him last time. Thanks to him for handling the situation the right way.
However, Tatum publicly criticized the call in a social media post on X after the match.
“Smfh 🤦🏽♂️ some calls you’re just not supposed to miss,” Tatum wrote.
Antetokounmpo was also involved in a physical play with Jaylen Brown early in the second quarter, when he elbowed Brown in the face on a drive to the basket.
Antetokounmpo was whistled for an offensive foul. Brown, who returned to the game after missing four games with a hip injury, remained in the game after the game.
Antetokounmpo pretended to extend his hand for a handshake and pulled it back and over his head before Brown could reach him, giving him a smile in the process.
“Giannis is a kid,” Brown said. “I’m just focused on helping my team get a win, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Last month, Antetokounmpo told Complex Sports that he thinks Brown is the best player in the NBA, stating that players who don’t make their team win aren’t the best.
Brown won NBA Finals and Eastern Conference MVP honors last season as the Celtics won their record 18th championship.
The loss drops the Bucks to 2-8 on the season. Milwaukee, which won the 2021 NBA Finals, struggled early with the group led by Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and former Celtics coach Doc Rivers.
Antetokounmpo led all scorers with 43 points in the loss.
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