The Boston Celtics continued their dominance over the Milwaukee Bucks this season with a 111-105 victory on Friday night. This win follows their 113-107 triumph over Giannis Antetokounmpo’s team in November. However, the game wasn’t without drama. In the third quarter, Celtics star Jaylen Brown received a technical foul following a heated exchange with Antetokounmpo.
The moment began when Brown found himself in a one-on-one situation against Giannis in the halfcourt. Brown crossed over the Bucks star, drove past him, and finished with a layup. After the play, Brown pushed Antetokounmpo and taunted him with the “too small” gesture, pointing at him multiple times. The antics led to a whistle from the referee, resulting in a technical foul for Brown.
Jaylen Brown received a technical foul for taunting Giannis on this play. pic.twitter.com/xaKiiCq5ph
— ESPN (@espn) December 7, 2024
For Brown, the exchange felt like a measure of revenge. During the Celtics’ previous win over the Bucks, Antetokounmpo pulled a playful prank on Brown by faking a handshake and then running his hand over his head in a mock gesture. Brown had labeled Giannis’ antics as “childish” following that game. Brown’s bold taunt on Friday seemed to be his way of responding to the earlier slight.
Celtics Fans Unhappy With Jaylen Brown’s Technical Foul Despite Win
The Boston Celtics may have secured a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, but not all fans were pleased with how the game ended. Jaylen Brown’s technical foul in the third quarter drew criticism from fans, who felt the punishment was excessive.
Fans see Brown’s taunt as part of the game’s entertainment. After the game, fans took to social media to voice their displeasure, calling out the referees and the NBA for what they viewed as overly strict rules.
stop with these soft taunting techs man let em have some competitiveness
— wholesome nba fan (@idcstfumaynee) December 7, 2024
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NBA is a woke joke
— Wealth Turtle 💰 🐢 (@wealth_turtle) December 7, 2024
Seems excessive.
— WickedAfterlife (@WAServers) December 7, 2024
Many argued that Brown’s actions added excitement to the game and should not have been penalized. Some fans even claimed that such decisions are contributing to declining interest in the NBA as the league becomes less lenient with moments of emotion and flair.
NBA so soft smh this is what makes games entertaining
— Jay (@YngJackieAprile) December 7, 2024
And you guys wonder why people ain’t watching anymore…
— BET99 Sportsbook (@BET99Sportsbook) December 7, 2024
Nevertheless, Brown scored 25 points, had three rebounds, and had three assists in the win over Milwaukee. With the win, the Celtics improved to 19-4 this season.
