CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Boston Celtics stayed cool while Charlotte Hornets lost theirs.
Grant Williams and Miles Bridges were ejected in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter and LaMelo Ball was called for a flagrant-1 foul, allowing the defending champion Celtics to pull away late and win 124-109 on Friday night. Williams was ejected after it was deemed he aggressively ran over former teammate Jayson Tatum when they collided near half court. Tatum appeared upset as he got to his feet, but simply walked toward the foul line as officials reviewed the play.
Williams’ foul drew boos from a large contingent of Celtics fans and could result in a suspension from the league. “At review, we saw that he accelerated his speed prior to the contact, and so he makes significant contact with the dribbler,” referee James Williams told a pool reporter. “The acceleration is considered wind-up, the impact was significant, potential for injury, so this was determined to be unnecessary and excessive, which gets us to a flagrant foul penalty 2.
Again, by rule, that is an automatic ejection from the game.” Boston's Jaylen Brown appeared upset about the foul, yelling something toward Williams and the Hornets' bench. Williams said there was “no malicious intent” and he was simply trying to make a play on the ball in transition when he collided with Tatum.
He said he went to reach to knock the ball away as Tatum was passing, which he said made the play look worse than it was. �.