Celtics' Queta Ejected! Portugal's EuroBasket Hopes Hang in the Balance!

Controversial Ejection Rocks EuroBasket: Neemias Queta Sent Off!

Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta found himself at the center of controversy on Wednesday after being ejected from a crucial EuroBasket group play game between Portugal and Estonia. The ejection occurred in the third quarter after Queta received two technical fouls, leaving Portugal's chances of advancing to the knockout round hanging in the balance.

The incident happened with 4:34 remaining in the third quarter, with Portugal holding a narrow one-point lead. Queta was assessed his second technical foul for what appeared to be taunting after scoring a layup. The box score cited an unsportsmanlike technical foul, leading to his immediate ejection. Earlier in the quarter, at the 5:45 mark, Queta and Estonia's Kaspar Treier were both handed double technical fouls following another taunting incident after a foul call.

Prior to his ejection, Queta, the only NBA player on the Portuguese roster, was having a stellar game. He led all scorers with 15 points in just 22 minutes, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 5-of-10 from the free throw line. He also contributed three rebounds, a block, and a steal. During his time on the court, Portugal outscored Estonia by seven points.

Portugal entered the game with a 1-3 record in Group A, knowing that a win against Estonia (also 1-3) was crucial for advancing to the round of 16. Despite Queta's absence, Portugal managed to secure a hard-fought 68-65 victory over Estonia. They will now advance to the knockout round, where they will face the first-place team from Group B on either Saturday or Sunday.

Before Wednesday's game, Queta had been averaging an impressive 15.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks in 23.7 minutes per game across his first four EuroBasket contests. His ejection is a significant blow to Portugal's chances as they move forward in the tournament.