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 preventing again from a nine-point deficit at Spectrum Heart.
Tatum dribbled the ball previous half-court on a fastbreak push and bought 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 recreation, leaving your entire Celtics bench in a state of shock and confusion.
“I feel on the time of the sport, that’s in all probability what confused the flagrant 2,” Williams informed reporters, per Bobby Manning of CLNS Media. “It was a transition alternative and I used to be attempting to make a play on the ball. I did attain throughout his physique and doubtless while you decelerate the replay it appears to be like like I make a play and I simply go after it. JT’s one in every of my closest mates within the league. There’s no intent to try to hurt him in any manner. It was simply a kind of performs the place quick, full velocity.”
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Jaylen Brown rushed to Tatum’s protection to supply just a few 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 troublesome 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 effectively and stuff like that. It’s only a onerous foul.”
Williams spent 4 seasons with the Celtics earlier than departing in the course of the 2023 offseason, albeit with a controversial fame. Former group play-by-play commentator Mike Gorman labeled Williams a “unhealthy locker room man,” final season and Tatum stood in opposition to the entire unhealthy press Williams was getting on the time.
This time, it is perhaps onerous for Williams to win again assist from Boston’s locker room. Earlier than Friday evening’s recreation, 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 perhaps higher off inviting Charles Lee and LaMelo Ball as a substitute.
“Actions communicate loud,” Brown informed reporters, as seen on NBC Sports activities Boston’s postgame protection. “It’s what it’s. We bought the win, we transfer on. There’s no place within the recreation for that. I believed JT and Grant was mates. I assume not. … Everyone 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.
