The Boston Celtics took care of the Charlotte Hornets for the second consecutive night at Spectrum Center, only this time Jayson Tatum wasn’t in the mood for any postgame greetings with the opposing bench, including Grant Williams.
Tatum returned to the court less than 24 hours after Williams viciously fouled his former Celtics teammate during the closing stretch of Friday night’s contest, resulting in a flagrant 2 and automatic ejection for Williams. Everything about the unnecessary foul was perplexing from the intent to the explanation from Williams afterward.
Instead, Tatum walked away with the last laugh as Boston swept Charlotte with a 113-103 win to put the Celtics at 6-1 this season. Once the final buzzer sounded to end the fourth quarter, Tatum immediately headed for the tunnel to avoid Williams, giving him a much-deserved cold shoulder. Williams claimed there was no ill intent behind aggressively shoving Tatum mid-dribble and that Boston would understand that.
Perhaps Tatum isn’t so understanding or willing to see eye-to-eye with Williams.
The five-time All-Star finished with a team-leading 29 points on 7-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds and three assists, out-performing Williams with ease — Williams scored five points on 2-of-6 shooting in 34 minutes. Boston didn’t combat Williams by matching the 25-year-old’s bone-headed physicality, but the team sent its message with a few bold plays. First, Tatum blew by Williams to throw down a two-handed dunk to give the Celtics a 108-93 lead in the fourth quarter, hanging on the rim for style points. Then, moments later, Neemias Queta followed by catching a lob from Tatum and hammering a dunk right over Williams’ head, giving him a stare right after, too.
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It wasn’t clear how Tatum felt considering he didn’t speak with the media following Friday night’s unforeseen ending, but as Williams extended a housewarming invite to his Charlotte residence — and chicken wings — it appears as though the answer is clear: Williams can keep his invite, wings, and antics all to himself.
The Celtics and Hornets will meet again on April 11.
Featured image via Nell Redmond/Imagn Images
