BOSTON — J.R. Smith doesn’t plan on apologizing for the incident between him and Celtics forward Jae Crowder from last season’s NBA playoffs.
At least not right now.
“He might want to wait on that,” Smith said after the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 89-77 on Tuesday night at TD Garden. “He can hold his breath for it, I’ll give it to him sooner or later.”
Smith and Crowder got tangled up near the basket in Game 4 of the Cavs-Celtics first-round playoff series in April when the Cleveland guard swung his arm and caught Crowder with a backhand fist. Crowder’s body turned from the force of the contact and he sprained the MCL in his left knee.
Smith was suspended two games for his actions.
Crowder said earlier in the week he hoped Smith would apologize, but he’s ready to move on.
“Nah. I didn’t expect it,” Crowder told reporters postgame. “It happened months ago, you know? So it’s all good. We live and we go on.”
The Cavaliers and Celtics don’t play again until Feb. 5 in Cleveland.
Thumbnail photo via Dale Zanine/USA TODAY Sports Images
