NBA Referee Explains Jaylen Brown's Ejection vs. Spurs

Brown's early exit was a blow to the Celtics in a crucial matchup against the Spurs.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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NBA referee Tyler Ford explained that Celtics star Jaylen Brown was ejected for "aggressively pointing and using profanity" towards the officials after a no-call during the Celtics' 125-116 loss to the Spurs. Brown's early exit was a significant setback for the Celtics, who were without their MVP candidate for most of the game.

Why it matters

The Celtics and Spurs are both top contenders in their respective conferences, and this matchup could potentially be a preview of the NBA Finals. Brown's ejection was a major blow to the Celtics' chances, as he is a key contributor on both ends of the floor.

The details

Brown was only able to play 15 minutes in the first half, scoring 8 points and dishing 7 assists before being ejected by referee Tyler Ford. Ford stated that Brown was ejected for "aggressively pointing and using profanity" towards the officials after a no-call. Despite strong performances from Jayson Tatum (24 points) and Derrick White (34 points), the Celtics were unable to overcome Brown's absence and fell to the Spurs 125-116.

  • The incident occurred during the first half of the Celtics-Spurs game on March 11, 2026.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A star player for the Boston Celtics and an MVP candidate this season.

Tyler Ford

An NBA referee who ejected Jaylen Brown from the Celtics-Spurs game.

Jayson Tatum

A key player for the Boston Celtics, who scored 24 points in the loss to the Spurs.

Derrick White

A Celtics player who scored 34 points in the loss to the Spurs.

Victor Wembanyama

A star player for the San Antonio Spurs who had a monster 39-point performance in the game.

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What they’re saying

“For aggressively pointing and using profanity to the no call. He aggressively approached a game official while pointing and using profanity. In live play, we did not observe any illegal contact.”

— Tyler Ford, NBA Referee (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Celtics will need to find a way to win games without their star player Jaylen Brown, who was ejected from the crucial matchup against the Spurs. Coach Joe Mazzulla will need to make adjustments to the team's strategy and rotations to compensate for Brown's absence.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining composure on the court, even in high-stakes games. The Celtics' loss to the Spurs without their MVP candidate Jaylen Brown serves as a reminder that teams must be able to adapt and overcome adversity if they want to succeed at the highest level.