Grant Williams, a forward for the Charlotte Hornets, was thrown out of Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics for a flagrant foul on his ex-teammate Jayson Tatum. The incident took place while Tatum was dribbling down the court, and Williams knocked him over using his shoulder for contact. The rough foul led to Williams getting ejected and created tension between the two ex-Celtics teammates.
Miles Bridges Also Ejected
During a game filled with high-stress situations, Hornets’ forward Miles Bridges was ejected after receiving two technical fouls. The Hornets ended up losing to the Celtics, with a final score of 124-109, bringing their season record to 2-3. The event appeared to darken Charlotte’s evening, stirring strong emotions on each side.
Celtics Respond Postgame
Following the match, Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla commended Tatum for his calm response to Williams’ blow. Teammates Derrick White and Jaylen Brown expressed their frustration as well, with Brown stating, “Actions are powerful in demonstrating one’s beliefs.” It’s just the way things are. We achieved victory. We continue forward. There is no room for that kind of behavior in the game. This was particularly unexpected considering Williams’ prior involvement with the Celtics, where he played for four seasons before joining the Hornets.
Relationship Tested
Although Grant Williams and Tatum seemed amicable pre-game, the events of the night may have jeopardized their post-game catch-up plans. In a pregame interview, Williams stated that he had asked Tatum and other ex-teammates to come over, but he ended up changing his plans and opting for a date night with his girlfriend instead. Yet, given the current tensions, a rendezvous after the game appeared increasingly improbable.
The Celtics and Hornets will play against each other on Saturday night. Fans are also eagerly waiting to see if any unresolved issues between the teams come up again.
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