Brian Scalabrine Accuses Heat Team Of Targeting Celtics Star Jayson Tatum with Cheap Shot

The Boston Celtics handled the Miami Heat during Sunday's Game 1. But ex-Celtics player Brian Scalabrine raised a question regarding Miami's intent on throwing cheap shots in the final minute of their losing effort. 

Boston defeated a short-manned Heat team, 114-94. 

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics battles Delon Wright #4 of the Miami Heat for the ball during the second half of game one of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

Scalabrine, sensing Miami's desperation without Jimmy Bulter, made a claim that the Heat's Caleb Martin deliberately tried to injure Boston star Jayson Tatum in the final minute of regulation. 

Martin fell into Tatum as the players went up for a rebound. 

Tatum hit the ground hard but got up immediately. Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown didn't agree with Caleb Martin's flimsy move, leading to a spat between the players.

WATCH:

The NBC Sports Boston analyst suggested the NBA should investigate Martin's hit on Tatum. 

Going one step further, Brian Scalabrine stated that Miami coach Erik Spoelstra instructed Martin to ‘take out’ Tatum during a timeout moments before he hit the deck.

Scalabrine said, "I'm not trying to start nothing here, but (Heat coach) Erik Spoelstra called a timeout with a minute and 30 (remaining) down by 16. ... I don't know, man. That looks shady to me."

"… I think Martin should get suspended for that," Scalabrine admitted. "That's a dirty play. You can't do that. Like, just think about that. The NBA is about the star players. The idea of winning a championship is your star players have to stay healthy. And the guy goes up and you just ram into him? That ain't basketball.

"Number one, the NBA has to take a look. I don't know if they're gonna fine him or not. I don't know if they're gonna suspend him. But, like, that's not a basketball play. 

"I don't care what anybody says. Just ramming into a guy that's jumping for a rebound? Did he go for the rebound? ... It wasn't over the back, he trucked him. That's weak. To me, that's weak."

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 21: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket as the Miami Heat defense looks on during the second half of game one of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at TD Garden on April 21, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 13: Mike Gorman and Brian Scalabrine looks on during the New York Knicks vs Boston Celtics game on November 13, 2023 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

(Was the ‘cheap shot’ drawn up by Erik Spoelstra? Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com)

Tatum commented on Martin's last-minute foul, admitting to the physical nature of the NBA's postseason. The C's star said, "It's a physical game, playing against a physical team, s**t's going to happen. It's not the last time my body will get hit like that or fouled in this series. I wasn't hurt." 

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla also gave his comments on the hit, taking a lighter approach than Scalabrine.

"I was waiting to see what [Tatum] was going to do. I was kind of excited about the whole situation. I enjoyed watching it." 

Boston takes a 1-0 series lead over Spoelstra's scrappy team.

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