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Scalabrine accuses Heat of putting a hit out on Jayson Tatum
Brian Scalabrine. Aric Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Former Boston Celtics fan favorite Brian Scalabrine made a big accusation against Erik Spoelstra and the Miami Heat on Sunday.

The Celtics defeated the Heat 114-94 in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series between the two teams at TD Garden in Boston. With roughly a minute left in the fourth quarter, Heat forward Caleb Martin slammed into Celtics star Jayson Tatum while Martin was charging into the lane for a rebound. Many felt the play was dirty. You can see the video here.

Scalabrine, who works as an analyst for NBC Sports Boston, took things a step further. During the postgame show on Sunday, Scalabrine said it was “shady” that Spoelstra called a timeout 30 seconds before Martin committed the hard foul on Tatum.

“I’m not trying to start nothing here, but I’m just … Erik Spoelstra called a timeout with 1:30 (left) down by 16,” Scalabrine said. “30 seconds later that play happens. 30 seconds later? Why is he calling a timeout a 1:30, and why is that play happening 30 seconds later? I don’t know man, that looked shady to me.”

Scalabrine also called the foul a “dirty play” from Martin and said he believes Martin should be suspended.

Spoelstra probably will not be happy about Scalabrine’s commentary. It is one thing to say you think a player lost his cool and/or intentionally threw a cheap shot at an opponent. It is another to accuse a coach of calling a timeout to instruct his team to injure the opposing team’s best player.

Fortunately, Tatum was not hurt on the play.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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