Game 2 of the NBA Finals saw a frustrating third quarter for the Boston Celtics, who were outscored by 21 points after trailing by just two entering the third. Celtics coach Ime Udoka voiced his displeasure with the referees on multiple occasions during the game and was eventually called for a technical foul with 6:47 to go in the third quarter.
The technical came after Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart were whistled for back-to-back fouls on Stephen Curry in the same possession. The fouls put the Warriors into the bonus with more than half of the quarter remaining.
Udoka says he received the technical “on purpose” to gain the referees’ attention and make sure his disapproval of how the game was officiated was known.
“I just let them know how I felt, throughout the game, in a demonstrative way, on purpose to get a technical,” Udoka said following Boston’s 19-point loss.
Al Horford wasn’t surprised to see Udoka get T’d up in the third quarter.
“I could see that coming a mile away. That whole first half was definitely different,” Horford said after the game. “We knew it was going to be different. We just kind of wanted to stay the course. It is what it is. On to Game 3.”
The Celtics went on a 6-0 run following Udoka’s technical but couldn’t hold on to that momentum, as the Warriors went on a 19-2 run to close the quarter. Golden State went on to win Game 2, 107-88. The series now heads to TD Garden, where the Celtics will look to use their home-court advantage in Games 3 and 4.
