In a heated matchup that saw the Boston Celtics fall to the San Antonio Spurs 125-116, Derrick White didn't mince words about Jaylen Brown's ejection. The Celtics guard was candid in his assessment of the situation, particularly the second technical foul that led to Brown's exit.
“I thought the second one was bulls**t, honestly,” White remarked, clearly frustrated by the call. He did, however, acknowledge that the first technical was warranted, as Brown believed he was fouled-a sentiment White shared.
Jaylen Brown has been EJECTED after being assessed a double technical foul for his reaction to this no-call 😳
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 11, 2026
Foul or nah? 🤔
pic.twitter.com/1SzvGD4edW
This game was a clash of two top teams, with Boston holding the third-best record in the Eastern Conference and San Antonio sitting second in the West. The tension was palpable, especially in a contest broadcast nationally on NBC/Peacock.
White expressed his disappointment, emphasizing the significance of Brown's contributions throughout the season. “It's a passionate game, high level game.
You can't throw out a guy that's done so much for us all year in a game like this,” he said, pointing out that lead official Tyler Ford didn't eject Brown. Instead, it was official Suyash Mehta who made the decisive call after Brown continued to argue.
"I thought it was bulls**t, honestly"
— Hector Ledesma (@HectorLedesmaTV) March 11, 2026
"It's a passionate game, high level game. Can't throw out a guy who's done so much for us all year in a game like this especially"
"...it was ridiculous"
-Derrick White on Jaylen Brown's Double-T ejection in a 125-116 #Spurs W vs #Celtics pic.twitter.com/8WN3Hn540r
The incident occurred with about 3:45 left in the first half. Brown, Boston's leading scorer this season, was animatedly disputing a turnover call, arguing that Stephon Castle had pushed him out of bounds. This led to the first technical, and his continued protest resulted in a swift second technical and ejection.
This loss was significant as it marked Jayson Tatum's third game back from an Achilles injury. With Tatum still finding his rhythm, Brown has been carrying the load, averaging 28 points per game-eight points above his career average.
White summed up the challenge of playing without Brown, saying, “It was tough, obviously, to basically play the whole second half without him. I thought it was ridiculous.”
Despite the setback, White praised his teammates for stepping up. “Just next man up. Guys came in, competed,” he said, highlighting Ron Harper, Jr.'s impactful performance and Baylor Scheierman's contributions.
The Spurs, meanwhile, continued their impressive run, securing their fifth straight win. They’ve been on a tear, winning 16 of their last 17 games, including victories over top teams like the Detroit Pistons and Houston Rockets.
For the Celtics, it was a tough blow on a challenging road trip, but White's comments reflect a team ready to rally and compete, even when faced with adversity.