The Boston Celtics barely showed up Monday night against the The New York Knicks and their MVP candidate dropped out early.
Jayson Tatum was ejected late in the fourth quarter of a 109-94 loss to the Knicks, marking the first time the sixth year player has been ejected from a game.
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics reacts during the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden on February 27, 2023 in New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Tatum was frustrated all night, scoring just 14 points on 6-of-18 shooting at Madison Square Garden.
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picked up his second technical foul in the fourth quarter, sending him to the showers while his teammates finished the rout.
«I don’t know,» Tatum said when asked what led to the second technique, according to ESPN.
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Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics plays defense against Jalen Brunson, left, of the New York Knicks on February 27, 2023 at Madison Square Garden. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
«But all the great players get sent off multiple times in their career,» he said with a laugh. «So, he’s good for my reputation.»
Tatum told reporters after the game that his ejection came after a sarcastic joke to a referee.
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«It’s tough,» Tatum said. «The first one, it doesn’t get called. If you look, it was clearly a foul. And those are the ones that are difficult. You get a technology for something you were probably right about.» [On the] Second, I told him that this was probably the best refereed game I’ve ever been a part of.
«I tried to pay her a compliment. It didn’t go so well.»
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics reacts after being ejected from the game at Madison Square Garden on February 27, 2023. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
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The Knicks had a significant advantage at the free throw line, going to the charity line 34 times to Boston’s 14.
The loss left the Celtics one game back in the league loss column. milwaukee dollars for first place in the Eastern Conference.