BOSTON -- Even before Carmelo Anthony got tossed in the second quarter of Boston’s 115-87 win over the New York Knicks, the Celtics were playing some pretty good basketball.
But certainly Boston’s chances of snapping their three-game skid took a dramatic leap forward when the perennial all-star was ejected by official Tony Brothers with 4:44 to play in the first half while arguing a foul called against him with the Celtics ahead 44-38.
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Isaiah Thomas made both technical free throws and the foul put the Celtics into the bonus with Amir Johnson making both free throws that put Boston ahead 48-38.
After the game, a pool reporter spoke to Brothers regarding Anthony’s ejection.
When asked what compelled him to issue the first technical foul and then the second, Brothers said the first tech was for “bad language” and the one afterwards was also for “bad language.”
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Brothers was then asked about the foul he called on Anthony and what the reasoning was for it being called on a loose ball situation.
“He (Anthony) dove on top of him (Johnson),” Brothers said. “You can’t dive on top of any player to go after a ball. That’s a foul.”
Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek was asked about Anthony’s ejection after the loss, New York’s fourth in their last six games.
Hornacek initially declined to comment on the incident, adding that he was not given an explanation from the officials as to why his best player was tossed.
“When he gets kicked out early like that … he was playing well,” Hornacek said.
So was Kristaps Porzingis who had to spend some additional time on the bench due to foul trouble.
“It is tough when those two guys are not able to play the full rotation,” Hornacek said.
Hornacek was also asked about whether he was disappointed in his team’s lack of composure (in addition to Anthony, Brandon Jennings was ejected for arguing a call with the Knicks as a team being whistled for six technical fouls).
“I cannot comment on that stuff except, for some of those, I don’t blame the guys,” Hornacek said.