CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On Friday night, the Boston Celtics maintained their composure while the Charlotte Hornets struggled to keep theirs. The Celtics emerged victorious with a 124-109 result, particularly after two key players from the Hornets were ejected in the final minutes of the game.
Grant Williams was sent off after a controversial play involving his former teammate Jayson Tatum near the half court. During the incident, Williams aggressively collided with Tatum, prompting officials to review the situation. Tatum, appearing frustrated, stood up and walked toward the foul line as the referees assessed the play. The foul drew jeers from the sizable contingent of Celtics supporters in attendance and could lead to disciplinary action from the league against Williams.
Referee James Williams explained the ruling during the review, noting that Williams had accelerated toward Tatum, leading to significant contact. The call was deemed unnecessary and excessive, qualifying it for a flagrant foul penalty 2, which automatically results in ejection from the contest. In response, Celtics’ Jaylen Brown was visibly upset and directed his frustration toward Williams and the Hornets’ bench.
After the incident, Williams expressed that there was “no malicious intent” behind his play, stating that he was simply trying to disrupt Tatum’s pass. He emphasized his friendship with Tatum, who played alongside him from 2019 to 2023, and asserted that he did not aim to harm anyone.
Tatum’s performance on the night was impressive as he led all scorers with 32 points, though he chose not to speak to reporters after the game. Shortly after Williams’ exit, LaMelo Ball received a flagrant foul for a reckless move as Tatum attempted a three-pointer. This foul, which resulted in Ball’s disqualification, was characterized by officials as a potential threat to Tatum’s safety.
In the final moments of the match, Miles Bridges was also ejected for sending the ball into the stands. Reflecting on the emotional climate of the game, Bridges acknowledged the need to manage feelings better.
Both coaching staffs were handed technical fouls during this intense matchup, which Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla described as physical. He refrained from placing blame solely on Williams for the situation, favoring instead to praise Tatum for his resilience after the foul.
“What I liked the most is that he jumped right up and didn’t lay around,” Mazzulla commented. “He showed great resolve and stepped up for his free throw.”
He also noted his contentment with how his team maintained their composure down the stretch of the game. Conversely, Charles Lee, the first-year head coach of the Hornets who previously served as Mazzulla’s assistant, stressed the importance of emotional maturity in tight contests and advised his players to focus on aspects they can control to cultivate successful habits going forward.
The two teams are scheduled to face off again on Saturday night in Charlotte.