Jaylen Brown Reveals Absurd Reason for Technical Foul in Bulls Loss
The Boston Celtics (21-6) have been playing elite basketball through the first three months of the season. This group can dominate any team in the league on any night but that isn't always the case.
On Thursday night, the Celtics lost 117-108 to the Chicago Bulls in an Eastern Conference affair. Boston entered the fourth quarter with an 86-82 lead, but the Bulls were able to pull away from the Celtics, outscoring them 35-22 in the final period.
With 5:12 left in the quarter, both head coach Joe Mazzulla and guard Jaylen Brown were docked for back-to-back technical fouls, and the 28-year-old called out the refs for it after the game.
Jaylen Brown said he told the referee he called a technical foul on Joe Mazzulla for no reason. The ref told him he’d also get a tech if he said it again. Brown said it again.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) December 20, 2024
Celtics News: Jaylen Brown Calls Out Refs Following Loss to Bulls
In the postgame, Brown revealed he told the referee he called a technical foul on Mazzulla for no reason. The ref responded and told Brown he'd get a tech himself if he said it again. And he did.
Brown and Mazzulla protested as a jump ball call instead of a non-foul call when Brown scrambled for a loose ball.
Mazzulla said he was issued the technical foul for stepping onto the court, which was confirmed by a pool report interview with crew chief Tony Brothers.
But for the California product, he was penalized for calling out the ref and defending his coach. That didn't make Brown feel good, and he expressed his frustration.
Brown said, "I said to (Van Duyne), ‘You called a tech for no reason.’ He said, ‘If you say to it me again, I’m going to call another tech. You can’t threaten guys with a technical foul, that’s not part of the game either. If you want to fine guys for gesturing and all that stuff — fine that."
Brothers said Brown was given the tech because he "questioned our integrity multiple times during that same sequence.”
Regardless of what the refs say, Brown didn't agree with the call and he made sure to let it be known after the game.
Boston will have a chance to get revenge, as they travel to play the Bulls on Dec. 21.
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