Watch: Al Horford gets ejected after striking Moe Wagner right between his legs
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Al Horford-Moritz Wagner foul play and Jayson Tatum
In Friday night’s match against the Boston Celtics, Paolo Banchero and the Wagner brothers put up a show that was clearly too much for the defending EC Champions to handle. What initially seemed like a one-sided match in Boston’s favor was soon turned upside down owing to Orlando’s magic. It indeed was a bitter defeat for the Celtics who were the favorites to win the game given their 22 games won this season compared to a measly 9 of the Magic. However, it was one player who really got frustrated and ended up getting ejected following his actions.
Al Horford for the first time in 7 years was ejected following his unsportsmanlike conduct on the playing field on Friday. Horford was being defended in the post by Wagner early in the third quarter, when the Orlando Magic were up by 11, 66-55. Without even trying to hide anything, the 36-year-old center threw his right elbow and closed hand in the direction of Wagner’s groin. And as one might expect he was ejected for his misconduct which was termed as “unnecessary and excessive”
His ejection got strong views from the whole of the NBA, but his teammate Jayson Tatum didn’t agree with the treatment Horford received, defending him he said, “That was unbelievable. I couldn’t believe Al got thrown out of the game. I didn’t think that was warranted, especially once they went to go review and they saw that Mo fouled him first. That’s why I got to shoot free throws.”
He continued by saying, “So I mean, sometimes guy get tired of people grabbing on him and the ref not seeing it, so (expletive) as a grown man, you take it into his own hands and get somebody up off of you, and that’s all he did, just got him up off him because he was getting fouled. I don’t think Al deserved to get thrown out of the game at all.”
Also Read: “Stay Classy NBA” – Fans in agony after Ja Morant is ejected over bizarre reason against OKC Thunder
Al Horford, Boston Celtics go down against Orlando Magic in the latest fixture on Sunday
With a 95-92 victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday, Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, while Admiral Schofield scored 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter to help Orlando secure the game. Bol Bol scored 11 points and pulled down eight boards for Orlando, which was 1-11 on the road prior to their two straight victories over the Celtics at TD Garden. Franz Wagner added 12 points. The Magic’s six-game winning streak is their longest since March 2019.
Marcus Smart scored 15, Grant Williams scored 14, and Jaylen Brown tallied 24 points to lead Boston. Jayson Tatum, a star player with the Celtics, was absent due to personal issues.
The 24-year-old is the team’s top rebounder (8.2) and scorer (30.2 points), and he ranks fifth in the league overall. Following left knee surgery in September, Boston centre Robert Williams III participated in his second consecutive game after missing the previous 29. In 17 minutes, he finished with six points and five rebounds.
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Abhivyakt Sharma
(270 Articles Published)