Nets' Big 3 dominate as Kyrie Irving gets abused by Boston fans
Nets forward Kevin Durant has a word with Nets guard Kyrie Irving just before the tip-off in Game 4 against the Celtics during an NBA first-round playoff series Sunday in Boston. Credit: AP/Elise Amendola
BOSTON — The Celtics had a packed house of 17,226 fans who came to TD Garden on Sunday night bent on revenge against Kyrie Irving, who left Boston to join the Nets in free agency two years ago. Instead, it was Irving who got payback for all the rude treatment he received with a 39-point, 11-rebound performance in the Nets’ 141-126 victory to take a 3-1 series lead heading back to Barclays Center for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
But as he left the floor, a fan threw a water bottle at him and was immediately arrested and removed. It was just the latest in a series of incidents involving fan violence toward players throughout the NBA.
"It’s unfortunate that sports has come to this kind of crossroads where we’re seeing a lot of old ways come up," Irving said. "It’s been that way in history in terms of entertainers, performers and sports for a very long time, just underlying racism and treating people like they’re in a human zoo. You know, throwing stuff at people, saying things. There’s a certain point where it gets to be too much."
Irving declined to say whether or not the water bottle hit him. When asked if he took particular satisfaction from giving an outstanding performance in such a hostile environment, he said, "The job isn’t finished. It’s just momentary [satisfaction].
"I’ve been part of a lot of hostile environments since I was a kid. It’s not the first time in my life that I’ve had to bounce back from one of those types of performances that isn’t typical of me, in terms of the big stage, and I can’t do it alone. So in between the last day or so, just spending some time with my teammates, spending time with myself and having conversations to keep me balanced and grounded and go out there and have fun and play basketball at a high level."
The Nets’ Big 3 combined for 104 points, including 42 from Kevin Durant and another 23 plus 18 assists from James Harden, and Joe Harris and Bruce Brown each added 14 points. The Nets shot a blistering 57.8% overall, including 59.3% from three-point range (16-for-27) and they were 29-for-30 at the foul line.
The Celtics were led by 40 points from Jayson Tatum, and Evan Fournier and Smart each added 16. The Celtics were without injured starter Kemba Walker (bone bruise) and key backup big man Robert Williams III (left ankle sprain).
Tatum and the Celtics got off to a hot start, building a 24-15 lead and 6-for-10 shooting. But the Nets closed the gap to 34-33 at the end of a period.
That last basket of the first period ignited an extended 31-13 run lasting deep into the second quarter to give the Nets a 62-49 lead. Harden had 11 points in that stretch. Late in the quarter, the Nets’ lead reached a high of 16 points before a corner three at the buzzer by Fournier cut the Celtics’ halftime deficit to 73-60.
Despite being showered with profane chants, Irving responded with 23 first-half points and six rebounds and was utterly unflappable.
Tatum scored 11 straight Celtics points early in the third quarter, but he had no help at the offensive end as the Nets’ lead expanded to 24 points at 96-72. The Nets reached the 100-point threshold on a layup by Brown with 4:08 left in the third quarter, and they eventually led by 27 points.
After the game, Durant had harsh words for fans who engage in violence toward players.
"Fans gotta grow up at some point," Durant said. "I know being in the house for a year and a half in the pandemic got a lot of people on edge, a lot of people stressed out. But when you come to these games, you’ve got to realize that these men are human. We’re not animals, we’re not in a circus. You coming to the game is not all about you as a fan. So have some respect for the game, have respect for these human beings, and have some respect for yourself."
Asked about the mental toughness displayed by Irving in staging such an outstanding performance, Harden said: "Mental toughness? One of the best I’ve ever seen. He goes out there, blocks everything out and just be himself and from a guy that probably would say he didn’t play his best game in Game 3 came in and had a killer instinct, killer mentality, and had a will to win Game 4. It showed."
Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 covering a wide array of sports and events, currently including the Brooklyn Nets beat.
