Celtics’ Jaylen Brown calls for investigation after controversial loss to Pacers
By STEVE HEWITT | Boston Herald | January 8, 2024 at 11:48 p.m.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2024/01/08/celtics-jaylen-brown-calls-for-investigation-after-controversial-loss-to-pacers/
Jaylen Brown did not hold back in his comments after the Celtics’ 133-131 loss to the Pacers on Monday night as he called for the league to investigate a controversial play in the final seconds that he felt cost the C’s the game.
With the game tied at 131 in the final moments, Brown pulled up for a potential go-ahead shot and was initially fouled by Buddy Hield. But the Pacers challenged the call, and it was surprisingly overturned even though it appeared Hield made contact with Brown’s head. Official James Williams explained that Hield hit the ball, leading to the overturn decision.
The Pacers regained possession and won the game after Kristaps Porzingis fouled Bennedict Mathurin on a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds and Mathurin made two of three free throws. Brown was left fuming and ranted about the controversial call after the game.
“I think he obviously hit me in the head,” Brown told reporters in Indiana. “I think we definitely need to do some investigation, that’s all I’m going to say. I think that was an obvious one. Like I’ve never heard of (the) head (is) part of the ball. It doesn’t make any sense to me. And I asked him. I went up and asked … like did I get hit in the head? He looks me straight in the face, James, and he says, ‘No, you didn’t get hit in the head.’ And I’m like, ‘OK.’ Then you come down and make… on the other end. Like that cost our team the game, and you expect us not to be frustrated, you know what I mean? We’re trying to build great habits. We’re trying to win as many games as possible, and we just dropped one because of that.
“So, I feel like we got the right to be upset and the league should understand. Of course we’re going to say something about it after the game, so I don’t think there should be any fines. But I definitely think that one should be investigated.”
Brown said after the call was made, he went to Williams to confirm the official didn’t think he got hit in the head. He wasn’t pleased with his response.
“I asked him, did I get hit in the head?” Brown said. “Because that was the one question I wanted to make sure that we both… and he said, no. And I asked him again, are you sure? And he said yes. That’s what pissed me off. Because I know I got hit in the head. And then you see the replay, it’s pretty obvious that I got hit in the head, and then you look me in my eye and tell me that I didn’t? I think that needs to be investigated. It cost my team a game and of course I’m pissed about it.”
The league will issue a Last 2-Minute Report from Monday night’s game late on Tuesday afternoon which will reveal what the correct call should have been. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said that Hield told him that he did foul Brown.
“I can’t wait for 4 o’clock tomorrow,” Mazzulla told reporters, referring to when the Last 2-Minute Report will be released.
