In a matchup between two Eastern Conference powerhouses, the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers, Monday night’s game was expected to be a thrilling and closely contested affair.
It certainly did not disappoint, as both teams fought tooth and nail until the very last second. However, what should have been a game decided by the players on the court, turned into a controversial ending due to questionable referee decisions.
As the clock wound down in the fourth quarter, the Celtics and Pacers were knotted up at 131 apiece. With just three seconds remaining, Boston’s Jaylen Brown attempted a game-winning jumper and was blatantly hit on the head by Pacers guard Buddy Hield.
A foul was initially called on the play as Brown went to the free throw line with a chance to seal the win for his team. However, in a shocking turn of events, the referees decided to overturn the call after Indiana challenged it.
Replays clearly showed Hield making contact with Brown’s head, leaving many puzzled at how the call could have been reversed. Even Brown himself expressed his disbelief and called for an investigation into the referees’ decision.
“I think he obviously hit me in the head. I think we definitely need to do some investigation. That’s all I’m going to say. I think that was an obvious one,” Brown said after the game.
Unfortunately for the Celtics, their misfortunes did not end there. On the next play, with just 0.1 seconds remaining, Pacers’ Ben Mathurin was fouled by Kristaps Porzingis while attempting a game-winning shot. The call may have been questionable, but Mathurin made two of his three free throws to give Indiana the victory.
The controversial ending to this highly anticipated matchup has left many scratching their heads and questioning the referees’ decisions. It’s not often that you see a game end on such bizarre and controversial calls.
But unfortunately for the Celtics, they were on the wrong side of the whistle this time.
The two teams are likely to meet again before the season ends, and there’s a good chance they could face each other in the playoffs.
There’s no doubt that Boston will have a chip on their shoulder and will be seeking revenge after the events of Monday night’s game. For now, they’ll have to shake off the disappointment and focus on their next game, while the Pacers celebrate their controversial victory.
