Details emerge from Celtics postgame locker room shouting match
Sep 17, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (left) talks with guard Marcus Smart (36) ring the fourth quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2020 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The Miami Heat won 106-101. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
After their Game 2 loss Thursday night, things got heated in the Celtics locker room. The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn reported a shouting match behind closed doors, that included multiple voices and items being thrown. This morning, we’re learning more about what happened.
Sources: Boston’s Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown had heated confrontation after Game 2 loss, needed to be separated.
Details on @TheAthleticNBA: https://t.co/7NZr4V2pD7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 18, 2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Athletic’s Shams Charania is reporting that Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown were the two players going back-and-forth.
“Smart and Brown had a tense interaction inside the locker room, with objects thrown around,” Charania writes. “Teammates diffused the situation before any physical altercation could take place, sources told The Athletic.”
Charania added that a source told him “They [The Celtics] will move past this and focus on the task.”
Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart of the Boston Celtics react during the fourth quarter against the Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of the 2020 Eastern Conference Second Round of the NBA Playoffs at the bubble in Orlando, Fla. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
That seemed to be the case postgame, with Jaylen Brown telling reporters, “That’s why we love [Smart]…He plays with passion, he’s full of fire, and that’s what I love about him most, to be honest. He has that desire and that will, and we need him to continue to have that.”
Following the heartbreaking loss and ensuing locker room scuffle, the Celtics canceled Friday’s team practice, according to Washburn. So the next time they take the floor as a team will be Saturday night, as they try to avoid falling into an 0-3 hole against the Miami Heat.
Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at Alexander.Barth@bbgi.com
Alex Barth is a digital content producer and on-air host for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Barth grew up in the Boston area and began covering both the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox in 2017 before joining the Hub in 2020. He now covers all things Boston Sports for 985TheSportsHub.com as well as appearing on air. Alex writes about all New England sports, as well as college football. You can follow him across all social media platforms at @RealAlexBarth.