WATCH: Grant Williams being ejected for intentionally crashing with Jayson Tatum

On Friday night, the Charlotte Hornets hosted the Boston Celtics, the reigning NBA champions, at Spectrum Center in a game between two Eastern Conference rivals. Grant Williams, a forward with the Hornets, also played against the team that selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft. Williams is now in his second season with Charlotte after playing for four seasons in Boston and one year in Dallas.

As Celtics star Jayson Tatum was taking the ball up the court with less than two minutes remaining in the game and Boston up 114-105, Williams ran toward him and bumped him, sending both players on the ground. Tatum immediately got up and left the floor before things could get out of hand, as the other eight players hurried in to support their teammates.

Watch here the video:

Grant Williams with the dirty hit on Jayson Tatum 😳

The referees ejaculated him shortly after. pic.twitter.com/DYWIR754dw

— 30🅿️roblemz (@30problemz) November 2, 2024

Jaylen Brown is heated with Grant Williams hard foul on Jayson Tatum, it appears pic.twitter.com/GywEWCCdp9

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) November 2, 2024

Grant Williams Boston Celtics left in 2023

When the refs decided that the play was a flagrant two, Williams was sent off the field. Only six points, seven rebounds, and three assists were his final stats. After running over Tatum close to halfcourt in the fourth quarter, Grant Williams was removed for a flagrant foul two, which caused the game to get tense. Ball was flagrantly given a hazardous foul after fouling Tatum on a 3-point try a few seconds later. Then, in the last moments, Miles Bridges was kicked out.

Williams and Tatum had two postseason runs with Boston Celtics during Williams' time in Boston, including two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals. Williams left the team in a sign-and-trade with the Dallas Mavericks in July 2023 after playing for Tatum and the Celtics for four seasons. At the 2023–24 deadline, the forward was then transferred to the Hornets. 

Saturday night will see the second meeting of the Celtics and Hornets in a back-to-back series. It will be intriguing to observe whether the two former teammates still have a connection. After winning 124-109, the Celtics improved their record to 5-1 for the early 2024 NBA season. The Hornets, on the other side, lost 2-3. With 32 points and 11 rebounds, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown each contributed 25 points.