The Boston Celtics secured a 114-94 victory in Game 1 of their first-round series against the Miami Heat on Sunday. Despite being the No. 1 seed, the Celtics faced a significant challenge from the Heat, who played without star player Jimmy Butler.
The game was marked by several intense moments, including one where Jayson Tatum fell hard to the floor late in the fourth quarter. Caleb Martin’s mid-air shove caused Tatum’s fall, leading to controversy.
Jayson Tatum on jumping right back up following Caleb Martin's hard foul in Game 1 of Celtics-Heat:
"It's a physical game, playing against a physical team, sh*t's going to happen. It's not the last time my body will get hit like that or fouled in this series. I wasn't hurt."… https://t.co/RVlWofhNdb pic.twitter.com/Z9cX9VRqMr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 21, 2024
Former Celtics player Brian Scalabrine labeled Martin’s action as a deliberate “dirty play,” suggesting he should face suspension. Jaylen Brown confronted Martin afterward, resulting in a tense exchange between the teams.
Tatum addressed the incident after the game, downplaying its impact: “It’s a physical game, playing against a physical team, sh*t’s going to happen… I wasn’t hurt.” Despite the rough play, Tatum’s resilience was commendable, although acknowledging it could have resulted in a worse outcome for him and the Celtics.
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