The unresolved tension stems from Game 4 of the first-round playoff series between the Celtics and Cavs in which Smith threw a backhanded slap at Crowder as they jockeyed for position on a rebound.
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Later on that Sunday afternoon, J.R. Smith caught Jae Crowder on the jaw with a roundhouse elbow – a shot that caused Crowder to buckle and sprain his left ACL.
“I hope he apologizes tomorrow”, Crowder said Monday morning ahead of Boston’s practice.
When asked if J.R. intentionally tried to hurt him, he stated,”I hope he apologizes tomorrow”, Crowder said.
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (+2, 200.5)The Boston Celtics took the reigning National Basketball Association champions to double overtime before falling just short on Friday and are hoping to get over the hump when they host the other National Basketball Association finalists. “But if he doesn’t, we’ll play ball”. Cleveland is seeking to cling to a slim lead in the East, while Stevens’ overachieving team fights to remain in a crowded playoff picture. While Olynyk reached out to Love and the two have reportedly squashed their beef, Smith has offered no apology to Crowder.
Love had an angry response in the heat of the postgame locker room, but he and Olynyk are now cool. “I apologized to [Love]”, Olynyk said.
Fortunately for Crowder, the injury did not require surgery and he was able to get return healthily to the Celtics with some rest and rehab over the offseason.
Asked about ill feelings, he said, “I’m ready to play (tonight) is all I can say”.
Brad Stevens is probably trying to calm things down.
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Let me go ahead and go out on a limb here and predict that Smith will not be apologizing to Crowder for hitting him in the face. LeBron James led the way with 25 points and eight assists, Timofey Mozgov added 17 while James Jones had 15 as the Cavaliers broke the game open with a 14-1 run in the second quarter before pulling away to an easy win to improve to 15-7 on the season overall and 5-6 on the road where they have lost two of their last three. “I don’t know how the guys on either side feel about it. Obviously, Love’s injury was really important”. He scored 16 points in the 98-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets last Saturday at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Nothing they encountered during the regular season tested them as much as four games against one of the best players ever and his capable supporting cast.
