At least one Celtics player has suffered a minor injury in each of the team’s three playoff games against the Magic so far. As Souichi Terada of MassLive writes, Jayson Tatum sustained a bone bruise in his right wrist in Game 1 that forced him to miss Game 2. In that second game, Kristaps Porzingis received stitches after a cut on his head. And after Friday’s game, Jaylen Brown told reporters that he dislocated his left index finger in Game 3.
Brown said his injury came after a flagrant foul from Cole Anthony, leaving the All-Star frustrated after the Celtics’ first loss of the series.
“There might be a fight break out or something because it’s starting to feel like it’s not even basketball and the refs are not controlling their environment,” Brown said. “So it is what it is. If you want to fight it out, we can do that. We can fight to see who goes to the second round.”
As Terada observes, the Celtics had expected a physical series against Orlando, but it was taken up another level in Game 3 on the Magic’s home court. Turnovers and poor execution led to the Celtics’ loss, though they still maintain a 2-1 series lead.
“I don’t have a problem with the game being physical, but it seems like when I use my physicality, I get called in the opposite direction,” Brown said. “That’s what my frustration was. It was just a tough whistle tonight. Maybe next game will be better, but it started in the third quarter with those two offensive fouls. I feel like the physicality, you are allowing guys to hand check and let it go on both sides then. Other than that, it was just a tough whistle for me tonight and we just got to be ready for Game 4.”
The two teams will square off again on Sunday evening. Tatum was able to return on Friday after missing Game 2, but guard Jrue Holiday was forced to sit out Game 3 due to a hamstring strain.
The 3 teams that foul constantly and end up with opposing stars unable to play each have won at least 1 game (OKC has won 3).
With the increasing pushback from their opponents, will the league’s refs try to dial in back in the next games?
Fans of those teams will complain that the Refs are not letting them play. For me seeing Udoka tell his players they arenot calling fouls to be even more agressive shows the Refs are not doing their job. Is that now 4 players hurt because they are not calling fouls?
This just brings tears to my eyes
You must have tears in your eyes often.
All Brown is doing is trying to get more calls in game 4, by setting the narrative that Orlando is playing dirty. And it’s probably gonna work.
You right about that Ghost! This Magic team might be tougher than any team they played last year in the playoffs and they’re only in the first round
Poor baby.