Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving opened up on his return to Boston Celtics’ home court TD Garden where he spent two seasons before parting his ways in 2019.
Kyrie Irving in the NBA Finals
Dallas Mavericks lost to Boston Celtics in the first game of the NBA Finals at the TD Garden. The Celtics capitalised on their home comfort as they dominated the game throughout on their way to a 107-89 victory.
Kyrie Irving returned to his old stomping ground as he was welcomed by a hostile TD Garden. He was being booed whenever he had the ball in the game. Irving didn’t have the desired impact as he could only manage 12 points with three rebounds and two assists.
Irving had a troubled past as he spent two years with Boston Celtics and didn’t have the best of moments during his stint with the 17-time NBA champions. He also had his fair share of problems with the Boston supporters and left them in 2019 to join the Brooklyn Nets in 2019.
The former Celtics point guard needs to be at his best as the Mavericks cannot afford to lose any more games in the seven match series. He alongside Luka Doncic has to start afresh in the second game as Boston will be coming at them with full force.
On being asked about the Boston crowd he replied, “It’s basketball at the end of the day.” “Being in this environment, I’m used to it at this point. Earlier in my career, there was a different relationship that I had with Boston, Just being able to come here, be settled with a veteran group, now I’m here as the veteran.”
“Over the past few years, just experiencing the playoffs here, even the regular season it’s been the same thing – I thought it was gonna be a little louder in here. But I’m expecting the same things going into Game 2, the crowd trying to get me out of my element, my teammates out of (their) element.”