The Boston Celtics were thwarted by the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night, as they were given a taste of their own medicine. Chicago’s three-point attack and late-game surge earned them a 117-108 victory at TD Garden. But the game itself was put on the back burner after the game, as Boston picked up three techs in the last few minutes.
After the refs said that Payton Pritchard would do a jump ball (when Jaylen Brown was first to the play), Joe Mazzulla was teched up for stepping on the floor. Then, Brown told the refs they messed up the call, was threatened about saying it again, said it again, and got a tech of his own. Jayson Tatum got a tech a few minutes later, too.
Needless to say, the Celtics were displeased post-game.
Jaylen Brown unleashes rant at refs
Brown gave a long-winded explanation during his post-game press conference.
“Here's the thing. You get fined. I got fined a couple of weeks ago for inadvertent gestures... But what part of the game is a ref calling an inadvertent technical foul?” Brown said I” said to him, 'You called a tech for no reason.' He said, 'If you say it to me again, I'm gonna call another tech.' , 'You called the tech for no reason.' Then he called the tech. Like, man, get out of here. You can't threaten guys with a technical foul. That's not part of the game, either.
“You want to fine people for gestures and all this stuff, fine. Like that, that's some b*******. Like, we were down three at that time on the jump ball. Then that led to us being down eight. That affects the game. That could have been avoided.
After the game, Mazzulla ran onto the court again to confront the officials. He had to be held back by assistants Sam Cassell and Tony Dobbins as he was trying to yell at the refs.
Brown’s rant continued by defending his coach.
“Joe didn't say anything to deserve a tech,” said Brown. “And then when I come up to you and say, 'You gave a tech for no reason.' As a captain before the game, I come and shake all the refs hands, because I speak for my team. I'm allowed to talk.
“So when I tell you, 'You just called a tech for no reason,' and you say, 'If you say it again, I call another tech.' Then I say it again, and you call a tech. You just threatened your whistle as a threat. Like, that's not a part of the game either. And I think it's b*******.”
