Celtics' Grant Williams suspended 1 game for making contact with official in loss to Bulls

Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams was suspended for one game for “recklessly making contact and directing inappropriate language” toward an official during their loss to the Chicago Bulls earlier this week, the league announced on Wednesday.

Williams will now miss their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday. He will return for Sunday’s game against the Washington Wizards in Boston.

Williams and Celtics interim coach Joe Mazzulla were both ejected in the second half of Monday’s 120-102 loss to the Bulls at the United Center.

Mazzulla was hit with two quick technical fouls and ejected in the third quarter after arguing for a technical foul after Jaylen Brown drove to the basket against Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic.

Then later in the period, Williams tried to take a charge against Vucevic in the lane. He was called for a blocking foul, and jumped up and started running back up to the wing when he blatantly made contact with official Cheryl Flores.

While it didn’t appear to be intentional, it triggered the technical foul and ejection. It's unclear what Williams said to the official.

Williams finished the night with three rebounds and shot 0-of-3 from the field in 18 minutes. The 23-year-old has averaged 9.5 points and 4.3 rebounds so far this season, his fourth with the Celtics.

Monday's loss marked the first for the Celtics this season, snapping their three-game win streak to open the year. DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 25 points in their win, and Vucevic finished with 18 points and 23 rebounds.