SUMMARY
- Jayson Tatum attempted a warmup shot after the whistle was sounded on a foul.
- Bam Adebayo contested the shot to not allow Jayson to get an easy warmup look since Boston had possession.
It was barely a close game between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat in their fourth meeting this series. Jayson Tatum played a part on both sides of the floor while letting his teammates lead the offense. Derrick White was explosive from deep shooting 8-15 and finishing with 38 points.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Celtics were already down a very important piece of their roster, Kristaps Porzingis. However, after the whistle was blown on a foul, Tatum attempted a warmup shot which the Heat’s Bam Adebayo tried to contest. Jayson accidentally landed on Adebayo’s foot and twisted his ankle. Tatum went down grabbing his ankle and was taken to the bench for analysis.
Jayson Tatum gets slammed for shooting a warmup shot after the whistle
Jayson Tatum eventually got back on his feet and managed to finish off the game. However, there was some talk regarding his decision to take a warmup shot after the whistle was blown. Since the Celtics were going to regain possession of the ball Bam wasn’t wrong in contesting the shot. The game announcers pointed it out and so did several fans on social media.
Why is Tatum getting up a practice shot well after the whistle?
— 🛸Austin 🛸 (@AustinHeff) April 30, 2024
Literally tatum’s own fault. Don’t blame Bam, you don’t let him take a free shot in your gym
— Milwaukeein6 (@Milwaukeein6ix) April 30, 2024
One X user said, “Why is Tatum getting up a practice shot well after the whistle?” Another fan added, “Literally Tatum’s own fault. Don’t blame Bam, you don’t let him take a free shot in your gym.” Unfortunately, Adebayo was rewarded a flagrant foul as the play was viewed as a potentially hostile act. Bam was also seen telling referees that Tatum flopped on the play.
Jayson Tatum’s injury isn’t as major as it seems
Jayson Tatum addressed the play during the post-game press conference saying, “I mean, y’all saw it. I shot the ball afterward. Landed on his foot, same ankle I hurt in Game 7 last year, that I hurt against the Warriors and I tweaked against the Clippers. So, it didn’t feel good at first. I don’t want to make it a bigger deal than what it is. It was a little play, I wasn’t trippin, moved on, kept playing, and worried about the rest of the game.”
Losing one star was bad enough, however, losing a second player like Tatum would be detrimental to the team. Jayson finished with 20 points and 11 rebounds with 5 assists. The Heat struggled to put up shots to bring the game to the wire. It was White’s efforts that propelled the Celtics’ lead against the Heat. The series is currently at 3-1 with the next game possibly allowing the Celtics to be the first Eastern Conference team to advance into the second round.