Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving stirred the pot ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals, and theBoston Celtics wasted no time turning his words into fuel for their fans.
Irving, who donned the Celtics jersey for two seasons from 2022 to 2024, threw some shade after the Mavericks’ Game 1 loss, suggesting the crowd at TD Garden could have been louder. Never one to miss an opportunity, the Celtics plastered Irving’s quote across the jumbotron before Game 2, riling up their fans in a big way.
The move worked like a charm. TD Garden was electric, and the Celtics rode that wave of energy to a commanding 2-0 series lead. The atmosphere was night and day compared to Game 1, with Celtics fans turning the volume up to eleven.
Irving faces familiar hostility in Boston, struggles under pressure
Irving’s relationship with the Boston faithful has been rocky since his departure, and he’s greeted with a chorus of boos every time he steps back into TD Garden. This time was no different. Despite his best efforts to block out the noise and focus on the game, Irving’s performance faltered under the pressure.
After an impressive run in the Western Conference Finals, Irving struggled mightily in Game 1 of the Finals, managing just 12 points on a dismal 6-of-19 shooting. The Celtics defense and the raucous crowd clearly got to him.
Even with his Finals experience, Irving couldn’t lift the Mavericks to victory, as they fell to the Celtics 105-98. The Celtics, bolstered by their fans and fueled by Irving’s own words, look every bit the dominant force as they inch closer to an NBA Championship.