Grant Williams introduced Friday evening’s Celtics-Hornets matchup to a violent place when the ex-Boston ahead aggressively fouled Jayson Tatum within the fourth quarter whereas Charlotte was combating again from a nine-point deficit at Spectrum Middle.
Tatum dribbled the ball previous half-court on a fastbreak push and obtained shoulder-shoved by Williams out of nowhere. The officers reviewed Williams’ bush-league transfer, charged him with a flagrant 2 foul and ejected him with 2:02 remaining within the sport, leaving the complete Celtics bench in a state of shock and confusion.
“I feel on the time of the sport, that’s most likely what confused the flagrant 2,” Williams advised reporters, per Bobby Manning of CLNS Media. “It was a transition alternative and I used to be making an attempt to make a play on the ball. I did attain throughout his physique and possibly whenever you decelerate the replay it seems to be like I make a play and I simply go after it. JT’s one in every of my closest associates within the league. There’s no intent to try to hurt him in any method. It was simply a kind of performs the place quick, full pace.”
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Jaylen Brown rushed to Tatum’s protection to supply a couple of alternative phrases to Williams. Tensions didn’t escalate past that time as Tatum dusted off the pointless football-like play and the Celtics got here away with a 124-109 victory to enhance to 5-1 on the season, taking the primary of a back-to-back in Charlotte.
Williams, in the meantime, isn’t stressing out over Boston’s interpretation of the play.
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“I don’t suppose anyone thought it was a malicious intent by any means trigger you don’t see anyone working as much as me — Neemias (Queta), (Derrick) White, none of these guys,” Williams stated. “JB was pissed off simply since you don’t wanna damage your teammate and stuff like that, and I perceive that. There was nothing, in my thoughts, that was tough or intentional. (Jaylen stated), ‘That’s what we doing Grant?’ Or one thing like that. It’s identical to, ‘No, no.’ He is aware of me too nicely and stuff like that. It’s only a arduous foul.”
Williams spent 4 seasons with the Celtics earlier than departing through the 2023 offseason, albeit with a controversial fame. Former staff play-by-play commentator Mike Gorman labeled Williams a “dangerous locker room man,” final season and Tatum stood towards all the dangerous press Williams was getting on the time.
This time, it is likely to be arduous for Williams to win again assist from Boston’s locker room. Earlier than Friday evening’s sport, Williams talked about that he deliberate on inviting members of the Celtics over to his residence in Charlotte, however from the vibe given off by Brown alone, Williams is likely to be higher off inviting Charles Lee and LaMelo Ball as a substitute.
“Actions converse loud,” Brown advised reporters, as seen on NBC Sports activities Boston’s postgame protection. “It’s what it’s. We obtained the win, we transfer on. There’s no place within the sport for that. I assumed JT and Grant was associates. I suppose not. … All people noticed the identical factor, proper? Non-basketball play.”
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Williams additionally completed with six factors in half-hour off the bench, making the bone-headed foul on Tatum his cherry-on-top second to wrap up a junk efficiency.
