The Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, 130-120, in a strong performance for the defending champions, extending their record on the season to 18-4. Last year’s Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown, has started the year off hot.
Averaging 25 points, six rebounds, and a steal, Brown finished the game with 28 points, no assists, and one of the most impressive dunks of the early NBA season. In the first quarter, Brown blew past Cade Cunningham and delivered a ferocious dunk on Isiah Stewart.
After the dunk, Brown celebrated with a throat-slash gesture—a reaction that surprisingly did not result in a technical foul from the officials. The move was discussed post-game, not for the celebration itself but because of the impact of the dunk.
Today, the NBA announced it has fined Jaylen Brown $25,000 for his “throat slash” celebration, as first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. The fine is unlikely to faze Brown financially, as it will simply be deducted from his next NBA paycheck.
After the game, Brown addressed the intensity of his matchup with Stewart, saying their back-and-forth throughout Wednesday’s contest set a new tone for the season. Brown emphasized that Boston—and he himself—will take the lead in establishing aggression moving forward.
Check out the dunk from Wednesday’s game below.
Jaylen Brown with the cut-throat taunt to Isaiah Stewart. 😳pic.twitter.com/thEaOKcr6O
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) December 5, 2024
