The Boston Celtics lost Monday night’s home game to the Utah Jazz in devastating fashion, losing 105-103 on Jusuf Nurkic’s game-winning putback with just 0.6 seconds remaining.
It was a frustrating night all around for the Celtics, who blew a 14-point lead, got crushed on the glass and missed a whopping 40 3-pointers.
Despite all that, Boston still had a chance to win late in the game. With the Celtics up by one and roughly 50 seconds remaining, Jaylen Brown drove towards the basket from the top of the arc. Keyonte George slipped in front of him and fell down, tripping Brown and causing him to lose the ball.
Shockingly, the referees did not call a tripping foul on George, which ultimately swung the game. The Jazz scored off Brown’s turnover and never trailed again, hanging on to win by a hair.
After the game, Brown didn’t hold back when asked about the controversial no-call.
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“Y’all going to get me fined. You can’t have a mistake like that as an official at that point in the game, 4th quarter, minute left in the game or less, and you completely, the whole staff blows the (expletive) call. Costs us a game. Unacceptable…That’s some (expletive).”
Brown’s profane rant was completely justified given the situation and the stakes. Boston lost a game it should have won, falling to 3-5 on the season and squandering Brown’s 36-point performance.
After losing their last two games, the Celtics will try to bounce back at home on Wednesday against the hapless Washington Wizards. Hopefully that game has better officiating.
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