As the shot clock expired late in the third quarter of Game 1, Irving hit a tough 2-pointer in the corner. Irving instantly turned and flashed his middle finger to the Celtics’ TD Garden audience as he returned to defense.
Since leaving Boston in 2019, Irving has had several unpleasant confrontations with Celtics supporters. Irving was booed by Celtics fans during a game against the Nets in 2019, in which he didn’t participate. During the Celtics’ 2021 first-round series against the Nets — Irving’s first games back in Boston with supporters in the stadium — he was booed everytime he touched the ball and was greeted with chants of “Kyrie sucks!”
Following the Nets’ Game 4 victory in that series, Irving stomped on the Celtics’ emblem at midcourt before returning to the locker room, where a fan hurled a water bottle at him.
Throughout Game 1, Irving was booed again, particularly after his elbow collided with Celtics guard Marcus Smart’s face on a jumper attempt in the third quarter.
Kyrie Irving gives middle finger to Celtics crowd 👀 pic.twitter.com/WxKGVwvw0r
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 17, 2022
Kyrie Irving comments on the Boston crowd. pic.twitter.com/yvdAm3WM7i
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) April 17, 2022
“When people start yelling p*ssy and b*tch and f*ck you, there’s only so much you can take as a competitor…Nah f*ck that, that’s the playoffs, it is what it is,” he said. “I know what to expect in here and I’m ready to give the same energy back to them.”