BOSTON — Celtics star Jayson Tatum did not believe his actions merited a second technical foul, and an ejection, in the closing moments of the third quarter of Boston’s 125-119 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night at TD Garden.
“I was extremely surprised [I was ejected],” Tatum said. “I mean, y’all saw what happened. Might not know what I said, but I mean, I guess whatever I said doesn’t matter at this point. I don’t agree with that. One of the assistant coaches was there with me, doesn’t agree. But it doesn’t really matter, right? … When they throw you out, they throw you out.
“Even if I was right, you know, they could go back and talk about it after the game. It’s not like we get that game back, I don’t get that time back. It’s unfortunate, but like I said, I can’t change what happened. Just how players compete and affect the game. The refs have an effect on the game. So they threw me out and right or wrong, it’s their word against ours. But I can’t get that time back.”
Tatum’s ejection came with 2.1 seconds remaining in the third, when — after being called for an offensive foul against 76ers forward Robert Covington that was reviewed by the officials and upgraded to a flagrant foul 1 — Tatum was ejected by referee Nick Buchert after picking up his second technical.
According to a pool report with crew chief Bill Kennedy, Tatum did a couple of things that merited the ejection.
“Following a loose ball foul that was called on Jayson, Jayson continued to complain and was asked multiple times to head to his bench,” Kennedy said. “He continued to complain about the foul called on the floor and overtly gestures toward the officials and was assessed a second technical foul.”
Tatum, though, appeared to be having a conversation with Kennedy when he was ejected. As that was happening, both Buchert and Phenizee Ransom motioned to eject him at the same time, leaving both Tatum and Celtics assistant coach Charles Lee with confused looks on their faces.
After a few moments, Tatum then turned and walked off the court.
“They were ready to throw me out,” Tatum said with a smile, when asked if he’d cursed in the lead-up to his second technical. “No, I didn’t. I didn’t say a cuss word.
“Me and Bill were having a conversation, and the other two refs, again, like I said, refs can have an effect in the game. They do have an effect on the game, on the outcome.”
And while the outcome went in Boston’s…
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