AP
WASHINGTON, JANUARY 17
Boston forward Jae Crowder says Washington coach Randy Wittman used profanity toward him, leading to Crowder’s technical foul during the Celtics’ victory over the Wizards on Saturday night.
Crowder made a layup with 3.9 seconds remaining to help Boston to a 119-117 victory.
Earlier in the final minute, referee Tony Brothers whistled him for a technical for arguing while standing in the blocks awaiting John Wall’s free throws.
Crowder said Wittman was on the other end of his remarks and had instigated the exchange.
“I feel like he was getting away with a lot of curse words and inappropriate words to me, and I retaliated and I got hit,” Crowder said. “Tony said he didn’t hear anything from Wittman. I’m not going to outburst on a coach and say something like that for no reason.”
Wittman held his postgame press conference before Crowder talked, and the Wizards declined to make the coach available again.
Wall said he heard Crowder exchanging words in the direction of the Wizards bench.
“He said something towards our bench and somebody had said something back at him,” Wall said. “I think there was a lot of woofing going on throughout the whole game.”
The officiating crew left the building before they could comment.
Crowder said he didn’t understand why Wittman would target him or any opposing player.
“He was saying something about me being soft and bleep, bleep, bleep hitting me on the John Wall foul.” he said. “It’s new to me. I understand we play them next week. I honestly don’t know where it was coming from.”
