Jayson Tatum Reacts to First Career Ejection As Celtics Suffer Defeat vs. Knicks

• Jayson Tatum was ejected for the first time in an NBA game
• The Boston Celtics star was tossed with 3 minutes, 46 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks
• The Knicks handed them a 109-94 defeat, which saw them drop to second in the Eastern Conference

Jayson Tatum picked up his first career ejection during his team's defeat to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

The Boston Celtics lost 109-94, their third defeat in the last ten games. The loss to the Knicks also saw them drop to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The MVP candidate had a frustrating game. He went 6-of-18 from the field and shot just one free throw, a technical foul shot, and was not happy about how things were going for him.

The 24-year-old picked up his first technical late in the third quarter to protest the lack of a foul call on a dunk. He then sarcastically reacted to the lack of a foul call on a missed three-pointer, which saw him get tossed.

Damian Lillard drug tested after dropping 71 points during Blazers vs. Rockets

NBA

Tatum on getting ejected

After the game, the 2023 NBA All-Star Game MVP explained why he was ejected.

"It's tough," Tatum said. "The first one, no call. If you look, it was clearly a foul. And those are the ones that's tough. You get a tech for something that you probably was right about. [On the] second one, I just told him this was probably the best-officiated game I've been a part of. "I tried to give him a compliment. Didn't go over so well," via ESPN.

The Celtics were not happy about the officiating. The Knicks edged them 34-14 in free throws attempted.

Nevertheless, the 2022 NBA finalists were poor from deep. They went 9-of-43 from deep. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla summed the game up perfectly.

Jimmy Butler stuns Philadelphia 76ers with acrobatic layup to end Miami Heat’s losing streak

NBA

"I just didn't think it was our night."

The Knicks registered their sixth straight victory to move into fifth place in the East. The Celtics' loss brings them to 44-18 on the season and puts them behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the best record in the NBA. They'll look to bounce back against the Cleveland Cavaliers in their next game, per NBC Sports.

Tatum wins Kobe Bryant Trophy

Sports Brief earlier reported on Tatum winning the Kobe Bryant trophy at the 2023 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City, Utah.

He scored 55 points - a record for the All-Star Game - rewarding Antetokounmpo for picking him in the draft just before tipoff.

The late great Kobe Bryant is Tatum's idol, and he commented on winning an award named after the Lakers legend.