Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown expressed his dissatisfaction with the consecutive technical fouls assessed to head coach Joe Mazzulla and himself during the closing moments of the fourth quarter in the Celtics’ 117-108 defeat to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. At the time, Boston was leading 86-82 before the Bulls went on a blistering 17-4 run to begin the final period, giving them a 99-90 lead. The Celtics managed to score six quick points, but the momentum was disrupted as both Mazzulla and Brown were hit with technical fouls at the 5:12 mark. The infractions were incurred as both individuals vehemently protested a no-call when Brown was scrapping for a loose ball, resulting in a jump ball being called instead.
Brown recounted his exchange with referee Justin Van Duyne, where he sought clarification on the technical foul issued to Mazzulla, which he believed was unjustified. Brown’s attempt to seek clarity was met with another technical foul being called on him. Venting his frustration, Brown articulated, “I said to (Van Duyne), ‘You called a tech for no reason.’ He said, ‘If you say it to 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. That’s some bull—-.”
On the other hand, Mazzulla revealed that Van Duyne informed him that his technical was for stepping onto the court following the jump ball call, a ruling that was corroborated by crew chief Tony Brothers during a pool report interview. Mazzulla dismissed the incident, stating, “Ref’s got to do his job when I was on the court and that’s it.” Brothers elaborated that Brown’s technical was a result of questioning the officials’ integrity repeatedly during the same sequence.
The repercussions of the technical fouls were felt as Zach LaVine converted both ensuing free throws and then buried a 31-foot shot to push the Bulls ahead 104-96. The Celtics’ woes continued as Jayson Tatum also received a technical foul later in the period, contributing to Chicago’s lead expanding to 10 points.
Mazzulla’s frustration boiled over at the conclusion of the game, prompting him to confront Van Duyne, ultimately being restrained by assistant coaches. When questioned about his postgame interaction with Van Duyne, Mazzulla brushed it off, humorously stating, “I just hadn’t seen them in a while, just a Merry Christmas, Happy holidays.”
The sequence of events involving the technical fouls and ensuing confrontations underscored the tensions that can arise between players, coaches, and officials in the heat of competition. The contentious nature of the game and the emotions on display serve as a reminder of the passion and intensity that basketball evokes, often leading to heated exchanges and contentious.
