Jaylen Brown blasts refs after technical fouls lead to Celtics loss
- The Boston Celtics lost to the Chicago Bulls after leading for most of the game.
- Key moments included back-to-back technical fouls called on Jaylen Brown and Joe Mazzulla during the fourth quarter.
- The loss raised concerns about officiating and its impact on the Celtics as they prepare for upcoming games.
In the United States on December 21, 2024, the Boston Celtics faced the Chicago Bulls in a closely contested game that ultimately resulted in a 117-108 defeat for the Celtics. The game was marred by controversy, particularly surrounding officiating decisions late in the fourth quarter. After the Celtics managed to take a lead into the final period, the Bulls launched a significant 17-4 scoring run, which shifted momentum in their favor. The Celtics struggled significantly, missing key opportunities, including three-point shots that typically constitute a large part of their offense. Jermaine Brown initially expressed frustration with the technical fouls called against himself and head coach Joe Mazzulla during a critical juncture of the match. The technical fouls were assessed after consecutive protests directed at referee Justin Van Duyne regarding a non-foul call. Brown felt particularly aggrieved and voiced his discontent by stating that Mazzulla's technical foul was unwarranted. After these calls, the Bulls extended their lead and managed to maintain their advantage till the final whistle, handing the Celtics one of their few defeats this season. In the aftermath, there were discussions and justifications regarding the officiating, with both Mazzulla and Brown asserting their points of view on the calls, which were essential moments that affected the outcome of the game. The game only added to the Celtics' growing frustrations with officiating, especially since incidents like these can have lasting impacts on team morale as they approach the holiday season and a game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Christmas Day.