.png)
German (DE) 
English (US) 
Spanish (ES) 
French (FR) 
Hindi (IN) 
Italian (IT) 
Russian (RU) 
4 hours ago
2
- Updated: Apr. 30, 2025, 1:03 a.m.
- Published: Apr. 30, 2025, 1:00 a.m.
Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley shouts to players on the court during the first half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Boston Celtics, Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)AP
BOSTON — Jamahl Mosely thought he was going to win the challenge, keep his best player in the game and stay afloat on Tuesday.
With the Magic and Celtics tied and with 9:46 left in the third quarter, the Orlando coach challenged a call on Paolo Banchero that sent Jaylen Brown to the free throw line for a chance to complete a three-point play.
But the officials upheld the foul call, setting off a chain reaction. Banchero went to the bench with five fouls. Brown made a free throw to put the Celtics ahead and started a surge that turned a tie game into a 21-point lead going into the fourth quarter.
“It definitely swung the series. It definitely swung the game. I have no idea what the explanation was,” Mosley said. “He came into his path All I saw is Paolo getting an elbow to the face or back into the face – and he got the foul. That was a game changer right there. Your best player picks up his fifth foul in the third quarter. It’s tough to come back from that moment, but our guys continued to fight.”
The Celtics rolled to a 120-89 win after that.
Referee Tony Brothers explained the decision in a pool report released by the NBA after the game:
Pool report
QUESTION: Just wanted to get more clarification on Banchero’s fifth foul and the subsequent elbow from the play from Jaylen Brown. What did you guys see on that play that made you confirm the challenge?
BROTHERS: Brown is driving to the basket, Banchero walks into him and walks him up under the basket. Brown attempts a normal shooting motion and in that normal shooting motion he makes incidental contact with Banchero’s face.
QUESTION: So, there was no potential review of an action by Brown, just the foul on Banchero?
BROTHERS: Brown’s action did not rise to the level of anything outside of just the common foul on Banchero.
QUESTION: Banchero just impeded his progress with his move?
BROTHERS: Everything that happened was as a result of him continuing to walk him under the basket and him jumping back in a normal shooting motion.
The Celtics advanced to face the winner of the series between the Knicks and Portland.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Comments