Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics were irate over a controversial late call in their Monday showdown against the Indiana Pacers.
The Celtics and Pacers were deadlocked at 131 with just a few seconds to play at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Brown was fouled on his go-ahead shot by Pacers guard Buddy Hield. The Pacers challenged the call, which was later overturned.
After calling a foul on the floor, the Pacers challenge and the call is overturned. Pacers ball. pic.twitter.com/p5pbX0pp0U
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) January 9, 2024
Hield appeared to make contact with Brown’s head on his contest. However, the referees deemed that there was clear and conclusive evidence to overturn the foul ruling on the floor.
after review, this was somewhat surprisingly ruled **not** a shooting foul pic.twitter.com/qlubzPtUp3
— Fastbreak Breakfast (@fastbreakbreak) January 9, 2024
Brown was asked about the call during his postgame press conference. The Celtics All-Star wanted the officials from Monday’s game investigated.
“I think he obviously hit me in the head. I think we definitely need to do some investigation. That’s all I’m going to say. I think that was an obvious one,” said Brown.
"I think we got the right to be upset… that one should be investigated."
Jaylen Brown gets candid about controversial end of Celtics game vs. Pacers, and the foul on Buddy Hield that was overturned pic.twitter.com/c6O3vmNUgI
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) January 9, 2024
To make matters worse for the Celtics, Porzingis was called for a foul on his closeout on Pacers wing Ben Mathurin’s last-second three-pointer. Boston challenged the call as well but the referees still didn’t rule in their favor.
Mathurin made two out of his three free throws with 0.1 left on the clock to seal a 133-131 Pacers win.
Celtics fouled the Pacers on the final play 😱
Kristaps Porziņģis couldn't believe the call pic.twitter.com/zqDCPpa29E
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 9, 2024
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said during his own press conference that Hield even admitted to fouling Brown.
Joe Mazzulla says Buddy Hield told him he fouled Jaylen Brown on that last play:
“I can’t wait for 4pm tomorrow” pic.twitter.com/WgtGic4Feg
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) January 9, 2024
Brown led all scorers with 40 points on a night the Celtics did not have Jayson Tatum available. Mathurin was the Pacers’ top scorer with 26 off the bench.
The Pacers managed to pull off the win despite the gruesome-looking injury to Tyrese Haliburton early in the contest.
