Jae Crowder’s season ended a bit prematurely last April, and he’s still upset about it.
The Boston Celtics forward left Game 4 of the team’s Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Cleveland Cavaliers after taking a stray backhanded fist to the face from Cavs guard J.R. Smith. Crowder ended up with more than just a sore face, though — Smith appeared to step on Crowder’s foot before throwing the punch, the force of which twisted Crowder’s body awkwardly and sprained the MCL in his left knee in the process.
“I hope he apologizes (Tuesday, when the Celtics play the Cavaliers),” Crowder told MassLive.com. “To be honest with you, I hope it wasn’t intentional. But if he doesn’t, we’ll play ball.”
It doesn’t appear Crowder will get his wish, though.
“I mean, we’ll just play ball,” Smith told Cleveland.com. “Honestly man, I’m done with that whole situation. I’m not even going to feed into it.”
Smith was suspended for the first two games of Cleveland’s series with the Chicago Bulls after the Cavs swept the Celtics.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
