WASHINGTON -- Boston Celtics big man Al Horford dismissed chatter about Wizards forward Markieff Morris Wednesday, one day after Morris shoved Horford into the crowd during Game 2 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Morris injured his ankle landing on Horford's foot in Game 1 and insinuated that Horford might have intentionally undercut him. Horford was adamant that it was unintentional, but Morris seemed agitated when the two exchanged words before the opening tip of Game 2.
Just 1:07 into Tuesday's game, Morris grabbed Horford by the shoulder while chasing a loose ball and swung him into the first row of fans. Horford crashed into the photographers and fans on the baseline near the Washington bench.
Asked Wednesday before the Celtics' off-day practice at the Verizon Center what Morris had said before Game 2, the typically jovial Horford had little interest in acknowledging Morris.
"I'm not going to give him any more play," said Horford. "That's it."
Asked if he felt Morris shoved him into the stands as retaliation for the ankle injury that left Morris questionable until just before tipoff of Game 2, Horford wouldn't bite.
"Again, I'm not going to give him the time of day," said Horford.
Morris finished with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and three assists over 27 minutes. He fouled out with 1:07 remaining in overtime.
Horford, who had 15 points and 12 rebounds over 42:32, did commend Morris' effort, saying simply, "He had a good game. He helped his team."
Given the chippy nature of games between these two teams in recent seasons, some extracurriculars were expected in this series. Morris, who got into a war of words with Atlanta's Paul Millsap in the first round, has been doing his best to instigate early in this semifinal series with the Celtics.
After Morris and Isaiah Thomas were assessed double technicals in the third quarter of Game 2, Morris appeared to swing his elbow in the direction of Thomas' head while boxing out for a rebound midway through the fourth quarter. Thomas made the layup and looked at the refs for a call because of the way Morris swung his arm near his head.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens downplayed a suggestion of bad blood between the teams.
"I'm not in the middle of a lane on every play, but what I've seen is two teams playing really hard," said Stevens. "I haven't seen anything else. Like, both teams are really competing. Either game could have gone either way. I know how much respect our players have for their players.
"I know, as you get further along in the playoffs, there's the desire for a side story. And the longer you play you probably have some. It's just the way it goes when you play somebody over and over and over again. But what I've seen is two teams playing really hard and trying to focus on playing really hard to win."
