Jaylen Brown Slams Refs Following Celtics’ Game 3 Defeat: ‘It’s Not Even Basketball’

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By: Mike

On Friday evening, the Orlando Magic secured a victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the first-round series in the Eastern Conference playoffs, reducing Boston’s series lead to 2-1. The intense game, ending in a 95-93 score, was marked by the aggressive play that has become a hallmark of the Magic this postseason. In the first two games, Orlando committed two flagrant fouls, one of which resulted in an injury to Celtics’ star player Jayson Tatum.

In the latest game, Cole Anthony of the Magic was called for a flagrant foul after a particularly rough incident involving Jaylen Brown, the reigning Finals MVP. This incident seemed to be the tipping point for Brown, who post-game criticized the officials for their lack of control over the game and hinted at the possibility of a physical altercation if the aggressive play continued.

“There might be a fight breaking out or something because this is starting to feel less like basketball. The refs aren’t managing the situation,” Brown expressed to the media. “If things come down to it, we’re ready to fight it out to see who advances to the next round.”

Playoff games are inherently more intense than those in the regular season, with players often pushing the limits on every play, and referees generally adopting a more lenient approach. However, the Magic’s style this series has bordered on excessive. After suffering a flagrant foul by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in Game 1, Tatum was sidelined for Game 2. Additionally, Kristaps Porzingis suffered a bloody injury at the TD Garden due to a flagrant foul by Goga Bitadze. Brown also reported dislocating his index finger due to Anthony’s harsh foul in the latest matchup.

While physical play is a part of basketball, the line between tough play and endangering players is clear. The Celtics feel that it’s imperative for officials to tighten control over the game to prevent further injuries to key players.


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