It was another intense night at TD Garden, but Celtics star Jaylen Brown walked off the court visibly frustrated after Boston fell 100-95 to the visiting San Antonio Spurs.
What set Brown off wasn’t just the loss—it was the officiating.
The Celtics attempted a mere four free throws, while the Spurs went 14-of-20 from the line, and Brown didn’t hold back his feelings.
“I’ll Take the Fine”
Speaking to reporters after the game, the 29-year-old MVP candidate made it clear he wasn’t sugarcoating his criticism.
“I’ll accept the fine at this point,” Brown said.
“I thought it was some bulls** tonight.
They’re a good defensive team, but they ain’t that damn good.”*
Brown went on to highlight what he sees as a consistent problem when Boston faces top-tier opponents.
“It’s like they refuse to make a call, then they call touch fouls on the other end.
That’s just extremely frustrating, bro. Every time we play a good team, the inconsistency is crazy. I’ll take the f**ing fine.”*
Naming Names
Brown didn’t just make a general critique.
He called out official Curtis Blair by name, saying:
“Curtis and all those dudes were terrible tonight. I don’t care.
They can fine me whatever they want.”
The NBA is known for handing out fines when players use profanity in interviews.
Suns guard Jalen Green was recently fined $25,000 for similar remarks.
For an NBA star like Brown, with over $200 million in career earnings, such fines are little more than a slap on the wrist.
“The fine is a teacher’s salary,” one Knicks fan joked on X, adding, “This world isn’t real.”
Fan Reactions and the Free-Throw Debate
Many Celtics fans rallied behind Brown, agreeing that the officiating was off.
Others debated Boston’s style of play, noting that the team’s heavy reliance on 3-pointers can naturally lead to fewer trips to the free-throw line.
On Saturday, both teams attempted 44 shots from deep, highlighting the high-volume 3-point approach.
“When you shoot 60 threes a game, you tend to get fewer free throws than the other team,” one fan wrote.
Boston averages 42.8 attempts per game, second only to Golden State in the NBA.
Spurs Surge Late
Despite a slow start, the Spurs found their rhythm in the second half.
Rookie Victor Wembanyama scored 16 of his 21 points after halftime, including a game-winning jumper with 19.2 seconds left.
Other Spurs contributors included De’Aaron Fox with 21 points and Keldon Johnson, who added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
San Antonio snapped a two-game losing streak, earning back-to-back wins.
On the Celtics’ side, Derrick White led the team with 29 points, while Brown scored 27.
The loss marked just Boston’s third defeat in 12 games.
Crunch-Time Drama
The game remained tight in the final minutes.
With seven minutes to go, Baylor Scheierman hit a corner 3 to give Boston the lead, followed by a driving basket from White.
The Spurs responded with a 9-2 run, reclaiming the lead at 93-91 with 2:14 left.
Brown tied it with a layup, but Wembanyama answered with a fadeaway jumper to put San Antonio ahead with 1:33 remaining.
A turnover by Brown allowed Julian Champagnie to convert a putback, making it 97-93, and Wembanyama’s left-wing jumper sealed the game at 99-95.
Wembanyama’s Second-Half Explosion
Wembanyama, playing his third straight game after a knee issue, didn’t score until midway through the second quarter with a 3-pointer.
But the second half belonged to him, as he scored nine straight points to erase a nine-point deficit, sparking a comeback and ultimately delivering the game-winning moments for the Spurs.
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