NBA fans FUME as Jaylen Brown avoids flagrant foul despite smacking TJ McConnell in the face before Celtics sweep Pacers
A controversial call near the end of the final game of the Eastern Conference Finals sparked angry reactions on social media.
With 7:23 left in the fourth quarter, Celtics star Jaylen Brown tried to gain control of the ball from Indiana Pacers guard TJ McConnell.
But Brown missed the ball and violently (and likely unintentionally) palmed McConnell in the face, sending the Indiana player to the ground.
Fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse wanted the Boston star ejected, if not at least charged with a flagrant foul. But instead, officials ruled it a common foul, which drew boos from the crowd.
Brown would go on to win the Eastern Conference Finals MVP as the Celtics completed a sweep of the Pacers and are now headed to the NBA Finals for the second time in three years.
Jaylen Brown was not called a flagrant foul in this battle for the ball with TJ McConnell
Social media was shocked by the decision, with many saying a blatant call should have been made
The reaction on social media afterwards was shocked at the lack of seriousness of the call, with many believing it should have been a blatant call.
“Jaylen Brown, my husband, but this is ridiculous. This should have been called egregious. “Thank God TJ McConnell is fine and back in the game,” read one message on Twitter.
Another user tweeted: ‘Dirty play. League protects Celtics. Imagine if Draymond Green had done that…’
“NBA officiating is embarrassing [sic],” another fan wrote.
“I want these referees investigated because HUH?,” said one Lakers fan.
An angry Miami Heat fan tweeted: ‘Jaylen Brown remains one of the dirtiest players in the league bam [Adebayo] does this and this app goes crazy’
Brown finished the game with a team-high 29 points, as well as six rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block.