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Jayson Tatum responds to Grant Williams’ foul after Celtics win
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Jayson Tatum responds to Grant Williams’ foul after Celtics win

Jayson Tatum wasted no time leaving the Spectrum Center on Saturday evening after the Celtics put the finishing touches on a 113-103 victory against the Hornets. All eyes were on the All-Star after he was bulldozed by former teammate Grant Williams for a flagrant 2-point foul in the final moments of Friday’s victory.

Williams was ejected for that infraction, making Saturday night the first opportunity for the two to interact publicly following the borderline low blow. Yet Tatum refused to greet his former teammate on the court and kept that mentality while speaking with reporters after the Charlotte game.

Tatum, who scored 29 points in the victory, did not speak to reporters Friday night after the interaction. When asked to talk about the situation Saturday night, Tatum evaded Williams’ question.

“I don’t really want to talk about it.” Tatum told reporters in Charlotte via Kayla Burton. “We prepared for the game today, came to Charlotte and did what we’re supposed to do. We’re going to Atlanta to try to get another win before heading home.

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Williams and Tatum reportedly spoke after Friday interaction by Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. However, Tatum denied there was any extra fuel in Saturday’s game to exact any revenge against his former teammate.

“I never talk about just one person,” Tatum said. “I understand who I am in this league and I play the right way. It’s not about a match or anything. Go out, try to dominate, give my team the best chance to win and play the right way, whether it’s scoring, rebounding, screening other guys. The goal is to give ourselves the best chance of winning, so it’s not about situations or other people.

Tatum was also praised by Joe Mazzulla after the serious foul for how he handled the situation in the moment.

“I’m glad (Tatum) is OK,” Mazzulla said. “What I like the most is the way he jumped, without lying down, it didn’t really bother him. He just got up, walked to the foul line and did his business. …To be touched like that, come back right away, it’s the big moment.

Tatum has been a model of consistency for the Celtics throughout the year through seven games, averaging a team-best 30.3 points while shooting 48.2 percent from the field . It’s obvious he intends to not let the Williams fight disrupt his mentality and he succeeded on that front with a team-high 29 points in Saturday’s win.