Jayson Tatum ejected in third quarter during Celtics' win over 76ers

Sean Leahy

The Boston Celtics lost Jayson Tatum for the final quarter of Friday night's 125-119 win over the Philadelphia 76ers when he showed his displeasure for a foul call with 1.1 seconds left in the third quarter.

After receiving his first technical foul fewer than four minutes into the game, Tatum hit Robert Covington in the face with an elbow going for a loose ball and was given a flagrant foul. As he increasingly became incensed at the call, he picked him his second technical of the night and was ejected, much to the disappointment of fans, like David Ortiz.

"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."

At the time of Tatum's ejection, the game was tied 95-95 and he had 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes.

It was Tatum's first ejection of the season.

"I don't agree with it," he said. "I've been in the league long enough. I've seen a lot worse behavior, reactions, get tolerated a lot longer. So for those two to throw me out the game, I was shocked. It's like, you always say 'Get your money's worth' when you get fined for these techs, and I definitely did not get my money's worth to get thrown out the game tonight."

Crew chief Bill Kennedy discussed the circumstances of the ejection with a pool reporter, confirming Tatum would not have been ejected had it not been his second technical foul:

QUESTION: What were the circumstances behind Jayson Tatum’s ejection?

KENNEDY: Following a loose ball foul that was called on Jayson, Jayson continued to complain and was asked multiple times to head to his bench. He continued to complain about the foul called on the floor and overtly gestures toward the officials and was assessed a second technical foul.

QUESTION: So, the only reason he was ejected was because of a second technical foul? He did not make statements that just would have prompted an ejection regardless of his technical count.

KENNEDY: That is correct.

This was already a game missing a couple of stars as the 76ers did not have Joel Embiid or Tyrese Maxey on the floor due to illnesses. The Celtics were without Kristaps Porziņģis for the third straight game due to a calf injury.

The win was Boston's third in a row and moves the Celtics to 15-4 on the season and 9-0 at TD Garden. They also remain atop the Eastern Conference standings.

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