Kyrie Irving did not play well in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics, but the Dallas Mavericks star downplayed the role the home fans played in his poor performance. In fact, Irving expected an even rowdier environment than he experienced.
The Celtics dominated the Mavericks 107-89 on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden in Boston, Mass. Irving scored just 12 points and shot 6-of-19 from the field. He missed all five of his three-point attempts.
In his postgame press conference, Irving was asked if the home fans got under his skin at all. He said the crowd of nearly 20,000 was more tame than he anticipated.
“Over the past few years, just experiencing the playoffs here and 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),” Irving said. “But, again, the energy’s gotta be focused toward the game.”
"I thought it was going to be a little louder in here." pic.twitter.com/vfNsxqc2lY
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) June 7, 2024
You can probably guess how Celtics fans reacted.
0-11 since 2021, 12 points tn, dribbling off his own feet, throwing the ball out of bounds, blatant travel… I’m not convinced he truly believes this. 3 more
— Jaden Mullen (@jmullen2320) June 7, 2024
Literally this pic.twitter.com/tethO1IxhN
— ProCy (@_ProCy_) June 7, 2024
he shot 25% tonight and he wants it even louder?
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) June 7, 2024
Loud enough to win by 20 we good
— FinesseTheBooks (@FinesseTheBooks) June 7, 2024
Irving spent two seasons with the Celtics from 2017 to 2019, and things did not go well. Irving openly said he planned to re-sign with Boston before leaving to join Kevin Durant on the Brooklyn Nets. The relationship between Irving and Celtics fans has since been tenuous, to say the least.
If Celtics fans were less enthusiastic than Irving expected during Game 1, that is probably because the game was so lopsided. Aside from one run early in the second half, the Mavericks barely put up a fight. Fans at TD Garden would have been a lot louder if the game itself was more exciting.
Prior to the series, Irving shared how he planned to deal with playing in a hostile environment. His stat line from Game 1 shows that he still has a lot to figure out.
