With Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on separate teams, Celtics fans were bound to get into mixed emotions at some point during this year’s NBA All-Star Game. That moment came early in the second quarter, when Brown found himself defended by Tatum in an iso situation at the top of the key.
Recognizing the moment, Tatum slammed on the floor à la Kevin Garnett as Brown circled back to line up his drive. He drove to his right with his left hand, before a quick switch back to his right and a layup. That switch may have caught Tatum off guard, as he ended up pushing Brown and getting called for a foul.
Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum and Tatum is slapping the floor lol pic.twitter.com/21JKQHSEWR
— Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) March 8, 2021
It’s a shove Tatum might get away with when the two face each other in practice back in Boston, which may be why he instantly turned to the ref to question the call. In the end it was a moot point though, as Brown missed both of his free throws.
Although their head-to-head encounter didn’t work out for either player, they found success elsewhere on the floor. Tatum had 13 points at halftime, while Brown had 12. Both also participated in the three-point contest before the game.
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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 abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.