Jaylen Brown Rips Nick Nurse for Being on the Court Late in the Game
It was an epic Game 6 that has now set the stage for Game 7. The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will be again Friday for the right to face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Raptors outlasted the Celtics 125-122 in double overtime Wednesday, but it didn’t happen without controversy. In the final minute of regulation, Raptors coach Nick Nurse was well outside the coaches box and on the court near the baseline. Boston’s Jayson Tatum turned the ball over on the play, causing Boston’s Jaylen Brown to blast Nurse after the game.
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics were in control of the series
It appeared the Boston Celtics were well on their way to the Eastern Conference Finals after grabbing the first two games of the series. Not only did the Celtics hold a 2-0 series lead, but they led by 10 points at halftime of Game 3 and held a two-point lead with .5 seconds left in the game.
OG Anunoby caught a cross-court pass from Kyle Lowry and threw up a prayer that was answered, allowing the Raptors to somehow escape with a 104-103 victory. That win injected life into the Raptors, who evened the series by winning Game 4. Boston cruised in Game 5, and Toronto’s double-OT win in Game 6 forced a winner-take-all Game 7.
Boston’s Jaylen Brown was furious after Game 3 when Anunoby was able to hit a 3-pointer to break the back of the Celtics. He accepted the blame. “Me being four years in, I have to be better. Can’t give up a three at the end of the game. They made a remarkable shot, but still, it’s a f—ing disgrace. It’s terrible. No excuse for it at all. It was ridiculous.”
An epic Game 6 forces deciding Game 7
OG Anunoby was at it again in Game 6 for the Toronto Raptors. After being the hero in Game 3 with a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer, Anunoby did it again. He hit a 3-pointer with less than a minute left in double overtime to put the Raptors ahead for good. The Raptors went on to even the series at three games apiece.
Kyle Lowry played 53 minutes for the winners and finished with 33 points. Jaylen Brown was the leading scorer for the Celtics with 31 points. Brown also collected 16 rebounds. Jayson Tatum added 29 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists, but it wasn’t enough to help Boston close out the series.
Kemba Walker, who played 50 minutes, was held to five points. The game got chippy as it went on, making for an enticing Game 7 that will take place Friday. Words were exchanged between the two teams right after the game.
Jaylen Brown blasts Nick Nurse for being on the court
With less than one minute remaining in the game and the scored tied at 98, the Celtics had the ball. Jayson Tatum fired a pass out of bounds that nearly hit Toronto coach Nick Nurse who was standing on the corner of the sideline and baseline screaming. Tatum threw a pass that nearly hit Nurse, possibly mistaking him for a player.
Jaylen Brown wasn’t too happy with Nurse being on the court. “Grown men should be able to control themselves,” Brown said. “Especially the coaches and coaching staff. But nothing we can do. We just gotta be able to fight.”
Tatum downplayed Nurse being on the court and accepted responsibility for his errant pass. “I mean, I turned it over,” Tatum said, according to Keith Smith, who covers the NBA for Yahoo! Sports. That was my fault. Can’t blame him. He’s not playing. It was my fault.”
