LeBron James Joins Chorus of Criticism Over Controversial Celtics vs. Pacers Ending

Following the intense frustration in the Celtics locker room on Monday night after a controversial ending to their game against the Indiana Pacers, LeBron James weighed in on Tuesday with his perspective on the matter.

The pivotal moment occurred when Jaylen Brown missed a crucial 14-foot jumper with just three seconds left in the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A foul call on Buddy Hield was initially made but was later overturned by officials upon review, despite Brown clearly getting hit on the head. While it might have been argued that Hield made contact with the ball first, the foul appeared simultaneous. Notably, Pacers guard Hield admitted to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla that he fouled Brown.

On the subsequent possession, Kristaps Porzingis fouled Bennedict Mathurin, who then sank the game-winning free throws, securing the victory for Indiana. Brown expressed his displeasure with the ending, and LeBron James, a fellow NBA All-Star, echoed the sentiment.

“See what I’m saying! JB clearly got hit in the back of the head,” James posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). “They reviewed the play, just to reverse it and say he didn’t. MAN WHAT!! Good ass game to have an ending like that. And yall see why I be going out (expletive) there when it happens.”

Known for his animated reactions when foul calls don’t go his way, James calling out the play brought significant attention to the controversy, elevating it beyond a typical Boston-Indiana matchup.

Anticipation now surrounds the release of the league’s final two-minute report, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, as fans and players alike await the NBA’s official stance on the contentious ending.