The Friday night matchup between the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Hornets turned sour after a flagrant 2 foul on Grant Williams. After the Celtics’ 124-109 win over the Hornets, All-Star forward Jaylen Brown talked about the physical play from his former teammate.
As the game was nearing its end with over two minutes left on the clock, Jayson Tatum got the ball to the center of the court. As he closed in at the half-court mark, Tatum was hit by Williams with his shoulder. The impact caused the Celtics star to fall to the ground.
Grant Williams hard foul on Tatum 👀 pic.twitter.com/VUzN4W5oMw
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) November 2, 2024
Brown reacted fast, hurried to Tatum‘s support, and went up to his old teammate. After committing an unsportsmanlike foul, the Hornets forward was sent off the field.
Following the game, the forward addressed the events that transpired.
“Like, what are we talking about? Y’all see the same play that I was seeing?” Jaylen Brown said after the game. “He hit him like it was a football play. Like, Ray Lewis coming across the middle or something. It is what it is. Grant know better than that.”
“Actions speak loud. It is what it is. We got the win, we move on. But there’s no place in the game for that. I thought JT and Grant was friends. … I guess not.”
“I thought JT and Grant was friends. I guess not.”
Jaylen Brown on Grant Williams’ flagrant 2 foul on Jayson Tatum 😬 pic.twitter.com/45lZoSfxxq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 2, 2024
The defending champs will pay attention to the physicality of their former teammate when the Celtics and Hornets play again tomorrow.
Aside from Jaylen Brown, other Celtics players didn’t like what Williams did to Tatum
Other Celtics players weren’t pleased with what Williams did to one of the stars. Derrick White, who had 17 points in their win, was glad Jaylen Brown was quick to his feet and helped Tatum.
“Like what JB just said, he obviously wasn’t going for the ball,” White said. “He’s just too damn big to be doing stuff like that and he knows that but JB got our backs always and we know that and we’ve got JT’s back always.”
Joe Mazzulla, their head coach, credited the team for staying professional, not allowing the tempers to flare. Mazzulla also said that he’s glad the All-Star forward got up immediately after the unnecessary contact.
“I’m glad that he’s fine. What I liked most is that he jumped right up. He didn’t lay around. It didn’t really faze him,” Mazzulla said. “He went right up, went to the free-throw line and did his business. I don’t like the fact that he did it. I’m happy that he’s OK, but I’m more happy that he responded to it. Just get up, move on, next play. And the team responded well too, so credit to them.”
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen with Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
