Every time Kyrie Irving meets his former Boston team, it’s an event. But each time Kyrie Irving meets his former Boston team, we are entitled to the same result: a 5 against 5 match that ends in a victory for the Celtics. New proof yesterday with the defeat of Brooklyn 109-98 at home. It’s been since… the 2021 Playoffs that Uncle Drew and his Nets have not beaten the Greens.
It’s starting to get long.
9 games in a row without a win for Brooklyn against Boston, namely a year and a half in calendar time. You have to go back to June 1, 2021 and Game 5 of the Playoffs first round series to see the Nets take over the Celtics. James Harden was still playing at BK at the time, so it goes back.
Boston’s last 9 results vs. Brooklyn:
109-98 W
103-92 W
116-112 W
109-103 W
114-107 W
115-114 W
126-120 W
129-106 W
126-91 W pic.twitter.com/qB053iTM21— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) January 13, 2023
Since that Playoff series, in which Kyrie Irving wiped his feet on the Celtics logo before a Boston fan threw a bottle of water at him from the stands, Uncle Drew has played seven games against the C’s for seven losses. In the lot, there was obviously the humiliation of the 2022 Playoffs with a big sweep of families in the first round, and two setbacks this season at Barclays Center. It stings for Irving, especially since he rarely shone against the formidable defense of his former team.
Kyrie Irving’s performance against the Celtics over the past two seasons
- March 6, 2022: 19 points and 6 assists at 8/18 shooting
- April 17, 2022: 39 points and 6 assists at 12/20 shooting (PO*)
- April 20, 2022: 10 points and 8 rebounds at 4/13 shooting (PO)
- April 23, 2022: 16 points and 9 assists at 6/17 shooting (PO)
- April 25, 2022: 20 points and 5 assists at 6/13 shooting (PO)
- December 4, 2022: 18 points and 8 rebounds at 7/21 shooting
- January 12, 2023: 24 points and 6 assists at 9/24 shooting
*PO = Playoffs
Something tells us that we are jubilant on the side of Boston seeing these kinds of figures.
It’s no secret that the adventure between Kyrie Irving and the Celtics ended in a very stormy way, and the public of the TD Garden never hesitates to whistle or even insult Uncle Drew when he returns to Boston . No one forgot the 2022 Playoffs scene, when Kyrie – coasting – sent middle fingers to some C’s fans a little too cheeky…
TrashTalk File: Kyrie Irving vs Boston, how far can fans go/provoke in the NBA?