BOSTON — Celtics forward Jaylen Brown took issue with consecutive technical fouls assessed to coach Joe Mazzulla and himself late in the fourth quarter of Boston’s 117-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. evening.
Boston led 86-82 before Chicago opened the fourth quarter on a 17-4 run to take a 99-90 lead.
The Celtics scored six straight points before consecutive technicals were called on Mazzulla and Brown with 5:12 left after both protested a no-foul penalty while Brown was fighting for a loose ball. Instead, a jump ball was called.
Brown said he approached referee Justin Van Duyne for an explanation about Mazzulla’s technique, which Brown considered unjustified. Brown also eventually received a technical foul.
“I told (Van Duyne), ‘You called a technician for no reason.’ He said, ‘If you tell me again, I’ll call another technician,’” Brown said. “You can’t threaten guys with a technical foul, that’s not part of the game either. If you want to fine guys for making gestures and all that, that’s fine. That’s stupid.”
Mazzulla said Van Duyne told him his technique was from walking on the court after the jump. That was confirmed by an interview in the group report with crew chief Tony Brothers, who said Mazzulla’s technique was to leave the coach’s box and walk onto the court.
“The referee has to do his job when I was on the court and that’s it,” Mazzulla said.
The brothers said Brown’s technology was due to him “questioning our integrity several times during that same sequence.”
LaVine hit the next two free throws and then hit a 31-footer to put Chicago back in front 104-96. Later in the period, Tatum also suffered a technical, which helped extend the Bulls’ lead to 10.
Mazzulla remained agitated at the end of the match and attempted to approach Van Duyne by yelling in his direction. Mazzulla was restrained by two assistant coaches.
When asked what he said to Van Duyne after the game, Mazzulla downplayed it.
“I just haven’t seen them in a long time, just Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,” he said.
