2023-12-02 08:25:08
Los Angeles (AFP) – Star Jason Tatum was sent off in the third quarter once morest the Philadelphia 76ers, but his team, the Boston Celtics, defeated its guest 125-119 on Friday in the NBA.
Published on: 02/12/2023 – 09:25 Last updated: 02/12/2023 – 09:24
2 minutes
After scoring 21 points, Tatum got into a fight with Robert Covington a second before the end of the third quarter, and was ejected.
Covington scored the technical free throw, and then two more shots were awarded following Titum’s foul was considered critical, due to his collision with Covington’s head.
Tatum (25 years old) received a technical foul in the first quarter, and following colliding with Covington, he violently objected to the referee’s decision, so the Celtics coaches were forced to remove him.
Tatum said he was “very surprised” to be ejected for the second time in his career. “I don’t agree with it. One of the assistant coaches who was standing there with me disagrees. But it doesn’t matter. In the end, the referees’ word is stronger than ours, and when they eject you, you’re ejected.”
The Sixers led 97-95 entering the final quarter, despite the absence of Cameroonian giant Joel Embiid, the best player in the league, for the second game in a row due to illness. Star player Tyrese Maxey and Frenchman Nicolas Batum were also excluded before the match.
However, the Sixers led 116-115 with 2:28 remaining, before a basket from center Al Horford put Boston ahead with 2:09 remaining.
Horford said Boston had to close down its zone following Tatum was fired. “We had to stop them and have to be brave,” he said.
Patrick Beverley scored 26 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists for Philadelphia, and DeAnthony Milton added 31, before he was fouled with six fouls six minutes before the end.
For the winner, four players scored twenty or more points, with Derrick White adding 21, and Horford and Jaylen Brown each adding 20.
Boston scored 8 three-pointers out of 11 attempts in the first quarter, which it ended with 44 points compared to 36 for its opponent.
Boston raised its tally to 15 victories versus 4 losses, at the top of the Eastern Conference, while Philadelphia ranks fourth (12-7).
© 2023 AFP
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