The Boston Celtics got themselves a relatively easy win in their 2024 playoff opener on Sunday, but there was a moment of controversy.
Late in the game, Miami Heat wing Caleb Martin bumped Celtics star Jayson Tatum hard while the two were going after a rebound, and Tatum took a hard spill as a result.
The Celtics and their fans cried foul, and some even accused Martin and the Heat of intentionally trying to injure Tatum.
But on Monday, the NBA decided not to upgrade Martin’s foul to a flagrant, and he will not be suspended, per NBACentral.
It looks like the league got this one right — Martin simply bumped Tatum hard, and it was likely the way Tatum fell that angered Celtics fans.
Boston won this game, 114-94, even though Tatum shot just 7-of-18, but they clearly have an advantage in this series because Jimmy Butler, Miami’s best player, is out with an MCL injury.
Last year, Miami overcame the Celtics in seven games, winning Game 7 by a wide margin in Boston despite wasting a 3-0 lead in order to force a seventh game.
The Eastern Conference Finals saw a Game 7 between the two teams the year prior as well, but the Celtics were able to hold off Butler’s club.
Given their history of postseason success, especially against the guys in green, Miami would probably have at least a remote shot if Butler was healthy this time around.
Rather, it appears that the Celtics will easily prevail in this series and advance to play the victor of the Milwaukee Bucks-Indiana Pacers match.
