### Grant Williams Ejected Following Flagrant Foul on Jayson Tatum

In a heated matchup between the Charlotte Hornets and the Boston Celtics, forward Grant Williams found himself crossing the line in a heated moment against his former team. During the Hornets' 124-109 defeat on Friday night, Williams was ejected late in the game for delivering a hard flagrant foul on Celtics star Jayson Tatum.

The incident unfolded with just over two minutes remaining. As the Celtics sought to capitalize on a missed layup by Miles Bridges, Jayson Tatum sprinted up the middle of the court in transition. In a sudden and unexpected move, Grant Williams charged from the blindside and body checked Tatum, sending him crashing to the floor. While Tatum managed to keep his composure and avoid escalating the situation, officials would not let the moment pass unpunished.

After reviewing the play on the monitor, the referees upgraded Williams' foul to a flagrant-2, which mandates an immediate ejection. Lead official James Williams explained the decision, stating, "Grant Williams accelerates, makes a significant impact to the dribbler, and makes a non-basketball play with potential for injury."

Post-game, Williams addressed the media and emphasized that his foul was not intended to cause harm. "Not trying to hurt anybody. We all know that's one of my closest friends in the league," he told NBC Sports Boston. Despite his explanation, Jaylen Brown expressed his visible frustration, comparing the hit to a football play and questioning their supposed friendship.

Following the ejection, the Hornets experienced a swift unraveling. Tatum, awarded free throws, converted both. Shortly thereafter, LaMelo Ball fouled out after encroaching into Tatum's landing space on a three-point attempt, resulting in another flagrant foul and three more successful free throws by Tatum. A subsequent foul on Payton Pritchard during the inbound play allowed him to score one out of two free throws, culminating in a devastating six-point possession for the Celtics. This sequence increased their lead from nine to fifteen points, quashing any remaining hopes for a Hornets comeback.

Compounding the Hornets' woes, Bridges was ejected in the final minute for hurling the ball into the stands, further highlighting the team's meltdown. Notably, the Hornets were missing Brandon Miller for this game, a critical absence for the young team that still has much to develop. This loss drops them to a 2-3 record for the season.

The Celtics, on the other hand, continue their strong start with a 5-1 record. Jayson Tatum, despite enduring multiple flagrant fouls, had a standout performance with 32 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals. As the Celtics maintain their momentum, Tatum's resilience and leadership remain pivotal.