Pacers’ Isaiah Jackson gets away with dirty play against Celtics’ Sam Hauser
Pacers big man Isaiah Jackson should consider himself lucky.
Jackson and the Celtics’ Sam Hauser were hit with double technical fouls in the fourth quarter of Boston’s 126-110 win in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, after tangling up with each other jockeying for position. But a closer look at the play reveals a little extra from Jackson, and a possible explanation for why things got a little heated.
Hauser and Jackson lock arms as they try to get in position for a potential rebound. No harm there. But at the end of the play, Jackson clearly, deliberately whips Hauser’s arm back. Any accusations of intent to injure, at that point, were fair.
For whatever reason, Jackson seemed the most upset after the play, even though he quite possibly attempted to rip Hauser’s arm out of its socket. He also appeared to say, “It’s basketball.” You be the judge:
The play was reminiscent of the time the jerseys were reversed, when former Celtic Kelly Olynyk gave a little extra to Kevin Love and caused a dislocated shoulder. Jackson came dangerously close to doing something similar to Hauser.
Jackson is lucky the ruling was merely double technicals. That could have turned out much worse for both of them, especially Hauser. But for Jackson to get no worse than a tech was to let him off lightly.
The Celtics ended up pulling away in the second half, as Jaylen Brown delivered a masterful all-around performance and Jayson Tatum came alive. The important thing is that the C’s are up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. But it appears that Hauser escaped Jackson’s dirty play without injury.
MORE: Celtics take 2-0 lead over Pacers after Jaylen Brown masterclass
The status of Luke Kornet, meanwhile, is up in the air after he left the game early with a sprained wrist. The Celtics’ frontcourt is starting to get seriously banged up, as starting center Kristaps Porziņģis (calf strain) still isn’t ready to return. But that might not matter in this series.
The Celtics just need to keep their arms, shoulders, and elbows away from Jackson. That man is up to no good.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
