Celtics forward Grant Williams suspended one game for making contact with official

Grant Williams was ejected from Monday night's loss at Chicago after making contact with an official.Michael Reaves/Getty

Celtics forward Grant Williams on Wednesday received a one-game suspension for “recklessly making contact with and directing inappropriate language toward a game official” in Boston’s 120-102 loss to the Bulls Monday.

Also, according to a league source, the NBA rescinded the second technical foul that Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla received Monday that led to his ejection.

With 8:58 left in the fourth quarter, Williams jumped to his feet after being called for a blocking foul and collided with referee Cheryl Flores, who made the call. Williams could be seen shouting toward Flores as he left the court.

Grant Williams joins Joe Mazzulla as he also gets ejected after bumping into the referee pic.twitter.com/htZxVuePnq

— hoops bot (@hoops_bot) October 25, 2022

Mazzulla’s technical fouls followed what he viewed as inconsistent officiating. A few minutes after Jayson Tatum was called for a technical for waving his arm in frustration because of a goaltending call, Bulls center Nikola Vucevic demonstrably protested a foul call but was not called for a technical.

Mazzulla was called for a technical by head referee Marc Davis when he walked onto the floor and yelled toward referee Natalie Sago about the inconsistencies.

In a pool report released after the game, Davis said Mazzulla had been previously warned, and received the first technical for making unsportsmanlike comments. He quickly received a second technical, leading to an automatic ejection, when he stayed on the court and continued to complain, Davis said.

Joe Mazzulla ejected from #Celtics vs. #Bulls late in 3rd quarter pic.twitter.com/nJj4kiYCY4

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) October 25, 2022

“I just have to have better composure under the circumstances,” Mazzulla said after the game. “I was just trying [to get] the referee’s attention. In moments like that when things aren’t going your way, you just have to be more composed, do a better job.”