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Celtics vs Bucks: Should Marcus Smart be suspended? Viral clip has fans delivering only one answer

After a video of Marcus Smart and Giannis Antetokounmpo getting tangled up during the match emerged, users online indulged in a debate over the 'dirty' move

NBA fans must be ecstatic with the games resuming. The July 31 game between two Eastern Conference contenders brought them to the court for the first time inside the Disney World bubble and it was an exciting game that saw the Milwaukee Bucks scored a thrilling 119-112 win over the Boston Celtics.

Giannis Antetokounmpo converted a tie-breaking three-point play with 1:28 left on an overturned call that kept him in the game and helped the Bucks beat the Celtics, according to CBS Boston. Antetokounmpo had 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists in the Bucks' first game. They improved the NBA's best record to 54-12 and moved within a victory of clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year, according to the report.

However, apart from the thrilling win, Twitter was abuzz about another incident during the play. A video posted on social media shows Celtics' Marcus Smart and Antetokounmpo colliding and falling at one point of the game. However, according to the user: "This is an incredibly dirty play by Marcus Smart grabbing Giannis' arm and yanking him to the ground. This could have caused serious injury and he should be suspended."

And, naturally, social media had to weigh in. One user said, "After every dirty play I've seen Marcus Smart pull, he no longer gets the benefit of the doubt."

Another concurred, “Smart is the dirtiest player in NBA not close.”

A user observed, “I totally agreed this is the exact same stuff Kelly Olynyk pulled on Kevin Love. That was dirty. You don't yank someone's arm down like that by accident when the momentum of the arm is up.  The arm doesn't get tangled unless someone is pulling down."

However, there were others who thought that people were overreacting. "He clearly did it by accident," wrote a user.

Another said, “I’m a Bucks fan, but they accidentally locked each other's arms and as Marcus fell, Giannis fell. Nothing flagrant or dirty."

One defended Smart by saying, “He jumped and yanked his arm down to the side immediately after feeling another body on him. Probably to try to get his hands in front of him if he falls wrong. This ain’t no dirty play.”

This was based on internet discussions and MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) cannot independently confirm anything. 

On the game front, according to the CBS report, Boston overcame a poor start to tie it at 107. Antetokounmpo was then called for a charging foul, appearing to negate his basket and giving him the sixth foul. The call was changed to a blocking foul on Boston’s Marcus Smart after review, and Antetokounmpo made the free throw to make it 110-107. A 3-pointer was knocked by Khris Middleton for a six-point advantage.
 
Smart scored 23 points for the Celtics and Jaylen Brown had 22, but star forward Jayson Tatum had a disappointing restart. He had five points on 2-for-18 shooting — though he actually only made one basket. For their next games, Celtics take on Portland and Bucks play Houston. Both matches are on Sunday, August 2.