Here are a few angles of the Wall-Crowder, Wizards-Celtics argument: pic.twitter.com/75tw37WEqf
— CSN Wizards (@CSNWizards) January 12, 2017
BOSTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Washington Wizards All-Star John Wall and Boston Celtics' Jae Crowder had to be separated after Wednesday's contest at TD Garden.
The Celtics pulled out a 117-108 victory, but after the final buzzer the game really heated up. Wall and Crowder exchanged 'pleasantries' before things escalated to Crowder poking Wall's nose. Wall responded with an open-handed slap to Crowder's face.
Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart also tried to confront the Wizards point guard. Players from both teams continued to have a shouting match on their way to their respective locker rooms.
"Just some altercation. We knew there was going to be some trash-talking," Wall told reporters after the game, via WEEI.. "We knew it was going to be a physical game. That's all it was: Just a little trash-talking and a physical game."
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The Wizards and Celtics just plain don't like each other. pic.twitter.com/E94ZGtX57B
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 12, 2017
Earlier in the game, Smart and Bradley Beal also had a confrontation and were separated by their teams. Beal earned a technical foul for the scuffle.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I ain't got no comment about that," Crowder told reporters, via Boston.com. "You want to talk about the game? Anyone want to talk about the game?"
Celtics coach Brad Stevens said he told players to get in the locker room after the final buzzer.
"I heard what was going on in the tunnel," Stevens told reporters, via MassLive. "All I did was walk out. There were only two guys that were walking in from the court from our team, and I just said, 'Get in the locker room.' And then I talked to the team about what we represent, and that's it."
In November, Smart and Wall also had a beef after Wall flagrantly fouled the Celtics guard. Wall was ejected for that foul. After the play, Wall appeared to say: "meet me out back" to Smart, according to the Celtics' broadcast
Isaiah Thomas led all scorers with 38 points Wednesday. Beal scored 35 points for the Wizards. Wall chipped in nine points, while Crowder had 20 points.
The Wizards host the Celtics on Jan. 24 in a game that shouldn't lack intensity.
