The Chicago Bulls played the last NBA game before the All-Star break on Thursday night, and a controversial call stole all of the headlines as they beat the Boston Celtics 104-103 at the United Center.
The call came in the final second of the contest, when Jimmy Butler was fouled by Celtics forward Marcus Smart on a last-second shot attempt. Butler ended up making both free throws to put the Bulls ahead by a point, and the Celtics were steamed after the game.
Here is the video of the play in question:
“We won this game,” Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas told the media. “We had it won. A great defensive stop by Marcus Smart and the referee called a horrible call. That was bad.”
Understandably, Butler disagreed with the Celtics’ frustrations, saying that the official made the correct call on the floor.
“A foul’s a foul,” he said. “He hit my elbow. I don’t care what nobody says. I think I’m making it if he don’t alter it like that.”
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The victory vaulted the Bulls into the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, and puts them just one game below the .500 mark heading into the All-Star break. Butler will represent the Bulls over the weekend in the game, which will take place in New Orleans on Sunday evening.
