On Friday, it was clear that the Basketball Gods have a favorite side. But they like playing with their dear ones before things change for the better. The Hornets came in hot, stunning the Celtics with a 3-point lead at halftime in their backyard. For a moment, it looked like an upset was brewing. But then, Boston woke up. Jayson Tatum and his crew flipped the switch, steamrolled Charlotte, and walked away with a ruthless 130-94 win. Still, JT made a “what happened?”—and he clearly wasn’t happy about them.
Picture this: you nearly snatch the ball, but it slips away—pure frustration, right? That’s exactly where JT found himself. Trying to disrupt the slick pick-and-roll of KJ Simpson and Mark Williams, he came up short. And in the heat of the moment, he slammed the ball just a bit too hard. Boom—technical foul.
JT picked up his 15th tech and faced the media, clearly annoyed but still playful. He scored 16, shrugged off the foul, and corrected a mix-up. Meanwhile, Coach Mazzulla joked about a 16th tech but wasn’t even there for the 15th. Tatum made sure everyone knew.
Jayson said: “No, ’cause two of them been rescinded. So, today was my 13th. It was some bull—-, but it was my 13th tech today.”
Apr 8, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) warms up before a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
In April 3’s loss to the Heat, Jayson Tatum picked up what looked like his 14th tech of the season—just two away from a suspension. But after a league review, good news followed. The tech? Officially rescinded. Therefore, the foul he picked vs. the Charlotte Hornets was the 13th one and not the 15th. At the same time, he did not shy away from expressing his discontent with the matter.
Tatum explained to the match officials on the court what had truly happened. But the decision, unlike last time, was not rescinded. He had Derrick White by his side, hoping that some support would be of some help. Sadly, that wasn’t the case.
Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis raised concerns when he left the arena early and didn’t return for the second half. Is everything okay with Jayson Tatum’s Latvian teammate?
Jayson Tatum’s head coach clears the air on Kristaps Porzingis’ second-half absence
Kristaps Porzingis was back in the starting lineup Friday, holding down the center spot against the Hornets after missing the Magic game. No signs of rust, but let’s just say his aim was a bit off. In 18 minutes, he dropped 11 points, grabbed 5 boards, and dished 2 assists—while shooting just 2-of-11 from the field. Thankfully, he made up for it at the line, going 5-of-6.
However, Porzingis sat out the second half, with Luke Kornet stepping in, but it didn’t slow the Celtics down. They cruised to a 130-94 win. After the game, Coach Mazzulla reassured reporters that there was nothing wrong with Porzingis despite his early exit. The head coach confirmed: “He’s good. He’s perfectly fine.” Five words of assurance for the Celtics fans!
Feb 20, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Despite a rocky start, the Boston Celtics cruised to a dominant 130-94 win. Jayson Tatum’s tech drama and KP’s early exit didn’t faze them. Coach Mazzulla’s quick reassurance on Porzingis, along with JT’s fiery but playful attitude, kept things rolling smoothly. All said and done, Boston had it under control.
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