With Jayson Tatum ejected late in 3rd quarter, Celtics beat 76ers 125-119

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum maintains he did not lose his cool or lose his temper, even though he watched the game’s conclusion from Boston’s locker room. Tatum finished with 21 points before being sent off for contesting a foul call late in the third quarter, and the Celtics proceeded to defeat the struggling Philadelphia 76ers 125-119 on Friday night without him. “Did I cuss? No, I did not…. I was shocked. They always say, ‘Get your money’s worth. You’re going to get fined.’ I definitely did not get my money’s worth.” The Sixers were without their top two scorers, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, but Tatum’s exit altered the outcome of the game the atmosphere within the structure.

De’Anthony Melton’s deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the fourth gave Boston a 95-91 advantage. Boston had led by six points in the third quarter. Tatum lost possession of the ball while bringing it down along the sideline, and in the subsequent scramble, he struck Robert Covington in the face.

Tatum received a foul whistle. He protested for a long time and was removed from the game after he interrupted the referees’ huddle, despite the Celtics’ coaches’ attempts to stop him. In the first half, Tatum had already been given a technical foul.

The Celtics’ coach, Joe Mazzulla, stated that he was fine with Tatum displaying some grit.

Mazzulla remarked, “I actually like it.” Some of that, in my opinion, is crucial. It goes without saying that you don’t want it to obstruct your victory. However, I would lean on the side of preferring to see that kind of enthusiasm and caring than nothing at all.

The crowd began to grumble as Tatum exited the floor, booing the officials loudly and in unison. Tatum’s foul was reviewed and determined to be a Flagrant 1, and Covington made the technical free throw to knot the score at 95.

“I believed I was fouled. I was attempting to discuss that play with someone. It was as easy as thing,” Tatum uttered. “I wasn’t that angry, really. Keep that story hidden from the public. With composure, I returned to my chair and grabbed some ice. I wasn’t angry. Nothing was thrown by me. I continued to watch the game. I saw us triumph.

Crew chief Bill Kennedy informed a pool reporter, “Jayson continued to complain and was asked multiple times to head to his bench.” “He was given a second technical foul for making overt gestures toward the officials and continuing to complain about the foul that was called on the floor.”

With 5:08 remaining and Boston up 111-108, Melton fouled out while leading the 76ers in scoring with 21 points. Patrick Beverley led the team in scoring with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Philadelphia gave up eight points in a row after leading 116-115.

Payton Pritchard scored all 10 of his points in the fourth quarter, and Derrick White added 21 points for Boston. With eight minutes remaining and Philadelphia up 106-104, Jaylen Brown and Al Horford teamed for two back-to-back blocks on Tobias Harris. Brown also had twenty points for the Celtics.

“I felt that everyone took initiative. We have that kind of team, period,” Mazzulla remarked. “The other guys simply followed the necessary steps to prevail.”

With eighteen seconds remaining, Boston trailed 116-115 after Horford drove for a basket, the Celtics made four straight free throws, and Holiday found Pritchard under the hoop to cut the deficit to seven points.