Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs
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Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs
The Boston Celtics lost in San Antonio on Tuesday night amid a stream of criticism aimed at the officiating crew, which ejected Jaylen Brown after Brown’s emotional reaction to a non-call in the first half. Brown played only 15 minutes in the game, and was restrained by teammates after official Tyler Ford assessed his first technical foul for arguing that he was pushed out of bounds by Spurs defender Stephon Castle.
Then, as Brown expressed his frustration, referee Suyash Mehta hit Brown with a second technical as he ran back down the floor to play defense. The two Ts left Brown with an automatic ejection, with Boston leading by two points. The Spurs went on to win, 125-116, giving Boston its first loss since Jayson Tatum returned to the team after his Achilles tendon surgery and rehab.
Victor Wembanyama: ‘Immaturity’ Hurt Celtics
While there were countless strong reactions to the way the referees inserted themselves into the loss for the Celtics, there was also the reaction from Spurs star center Victor Wembanyama, who all but stated that the Brown’s outburst was the product of “immaturity,” and that his young Spurs don’t suffer from such an affliction.
Said Wembanyama when asked about avoiding reactions like the one that Brown showed: “I think it’s not that hard because we know what we want to do, we know where we’re going. I think the—obviously in that situation, in would be bad if we lost our focus. That would be bad, it would show immaturity.. So we do what we can do.”
Certainly, Wembanyama held up his end of the bargain for San Antonio, recording a career high by making eight 3-pointers. He finished with 39 points and 11 rebounds on the night, adding three assists and two blocked shots.
Jaylen Brown Deserved 1st Tech, Not 2nd
But after the game and into Wednesday morning, reaction to the Brown ouster was very, very negative.
“I disagree with it. The NBA makes a big deal about prime time games and stars playing and being available,” Tatum said after the game. “The first tech was probably warranted, emotions are high. But the second tech, you gotta understand that it’s a national TV game, two of the best teams in the league, and you make a big deal about stars playing, and you get trigger-happy to throw somebody out of the game.”
And on ESPN on Wednesday morning, loud talker Stephen A. Smith aimed his ire at the second technical foul, given out by Mehta.
Said Smith: “Why? It was none of your business! You had nothing to do with the play! It was not your call, and you’re not the chief! Who the hell do you think you are? We got a nationally televised game going on with a top-two candidate for league MVP honors. We wanna see Jaylen Brown!” Smith screamed.