Celtics
“It just wasn’t a basketball game. Grant knows better than that.”
Joe Mazzulla. AP Photo/Nell Redmond
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Jayson Tatum and the Celtics roll as Grant Williams and the Hornets lose control late: takeaways
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Grant Williams explains flagrant foul on Jayson Tatum that led to his ejection
Grant Williams slammed into Jayson Tatum at full speed late in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ win over Charlotte on Friday night.
Williams was ejected from the game after being called for a Flagrant 2 foul. He told reporters the act was unintentional, but Celtics forward Jaylen Brown disagrees.
“I don’t know what it was about. I think that spoke for itself,” Brown said. “I don’t know if Grant missed JT, I don’t know what it was. It just wasn’t a basketball game. Grant knows better than that.
Celtics guard Derrick White also said the 6-foot-6, 236-pound Williams should know better than to avoid running into people at full speed when they’re dribbling a basketball.
“Like what JB just said, he obviously wasn’t going to get the ball,” White said. “He’s just too big to do stuff like that and he knows it, but JB always has our back and we know it and we always have JT’s back.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who said earlier this week that he would like to see the NBA bring fighting back, said he likes the physical side of the game.
He also said he liked the response from Tatum, who was hit by actions that resulted in flagrant fouls from two different Hornets players. LaMelo Ball received a Flagrant 1 for contact he made with Tatum while contesting a 3-point shot attempt.
“I’m glad he’s okay. What I liked the most was that he jumped. He didn’t stay there. It didn’t really bother him,” Mazzulla said. “He came right up, walked to the free throw line and did his business. I don’t like the fact that he did it. I’m glad he’s okay, but I’m even happier he responded. Get up, keep going, then play. And the team responded well too, so thank you to them.
“I just liked the way JT handled the situation. It was great. Get hit like this, come back immediately. A great moment.
Brown said there was no place in the game for the way Williams acted Friday night.
“I thought Grant and JT were friends,” Brown said. “I guess not.”
Brown agreed with Mazzulla’s opinion that persistent physical challenges can bring teams together.
“I think it brings out a side of our team that we need,” Brown said. “I think it adds another dimension to our team and that’s what we need if we want to continue winning games at a high level. You need a bit of edge, a bit of spirit, a little fight in you I welcome that too. I agree with Joe.
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