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    • Hornets’ Grant Williams ejected after confronting former teammate Jayson Tatum during Celtics’ 124-109 victory
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    Hornets’ Grant Williams ejected after confronting former teammate Jayson Tatum during Celtics’ 124-109 victory

    Pabio Posted on

    Grant Williams And Jayson Tatum were teammates for four seasons Boston Celtics from 2019 to 23. Before the Celtics faced Williams’ current team, the Charlotte Frelonsthe six-year veteran said it was “special» to see his former teammates win the NBA championship last season.

    “Honestly, I didn’t really feel depressed because I left Boston,” Williams said. via Noa Dalzell of CLNS Media. “I wasn’t one of those guys that, if I had been traded there, like if there was tension, it would have been different.”

    Some might question that “bad blood” remark after Williams presented Tatum with a hit more appropriate for an NFL game than an NBA game near the end of Boston’s 124-109 win over Charlotte Friday. With 2:02 left, Tatum grabbed a rebound and brought the ball up the court. Williams ran at him in half court and exposed him with a shoulder check.

    Williams was cautioned for a Flagrant 2 foul and was ejected from the match.

    “Grant Williams accelerates, makes significant impact on the dribbler,” referee James Williams explained, turning the foul into Flagrant 2. “Un-basketball play, potential for injury.”

    Watching the play, it’s hard to argue that Williams was trying to get the ball. Maybe he was trying to force a turnover with the score at 114-105. But he just fell on Tatum, leading him with his shoulder. As the referee said, “a game without basketball.”

    Tatum walked away without confronting Williams, perhaps just wanting the match to end. Maybe he knows how his former teammate plays sometimes. But Tatum’s current teammates, including Jaylen Brown, seemed to feel differently, yelling at Williams as he left the court.

    After the match, Brown ripped Williams, claiming the collision was intentional.

    “Actions speak loudly. It’s like that, we won, but there’s no room for that in the game,” Brown said. via Boston Herald. “I thought JT and Grant were friends. I guess not.”

    “What are we talking about?” Y’all seeing the same play as me?” he added. “He hit it like it was a football play, like Ray Lewis crossing the middle or something. That’s how it is. Grant knows better than that. »

    Speaking to NBC Sports Boston, Williams claimed he wasn’t trying to hurt Tatum.

    “I think it was more about him not seeing me more than anything else,” Williams said. “Like, I’m reaching, and I definitely made contact with the body before I reached.

    “Probably a gross foul; definitely not intentional. I’m not trying to hurt him in any way. We all know he’s one of my closest friends in the league.”

    Tatum led the Celtics with 32 points and 11 rebounds, making 11 of 13 free throws. Williams had six points, seven rebounds and five personal fouls before being ejected. Ball LaMelo led the Hornets with 31 points.

    If anyone harbors hard feelings because of Williams’ egregious foul, that could become evident quickly. The Celtics and Hornets play again Saturday for the rematch of a back-to-back.

    Pabio
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