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Boston Celtics: Kyrie Irving lives to shine against former team

By Mark Nilon

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 25: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets brings the ball up court during the third quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 25, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 25: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets brings the ball up court during the third quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on December 25, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics have found themselves on a hot streak as of late, rattling off nine wins during their last 11 outings, including a six-in-a-row stretch during this aforementioned slate of games.

Fresh off Thursday’s impressive victory over the Western Conference’s second-seeded Phoenix Suns, the shamrocks now hit the road a bit south to the borough of Brooklyn to take on the East’s own second-seeded Nets.

Already having squared off against each other twice on the year, Boston has found themselves on the losing side of the equation at the end of both outings.

Perhaps even more ravaged by injuries than the Cs, Brooklyn will once again find itself without their star-studded big-3 of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving during Friday’s matchup, for Harden recently suffered a setback with his hamstring injury and, as a result, is now listed as ‘out indefinitely.’

Durant, who has only managed to suit up five times for the team since mid-February, is listed as ‘questionable’ for the exhibition which could spell trouble for Beantown.

However, even if he doesn’t end up taking to the court, the Nets still find themselves with a presumably healthy Irving who, during both outings against his former team, has produced at some of the best rates he has all season.

Kyrie Irving has scorched the Boston Celtics in both outings this season

In 33.9 minutes per game against the Boston Celtics this year, the perennial All-Star finds himself averaging a season-high in points with 38.5 to go along with seven rebounds, 5.5 assists, and a steal on 64 percent shooting from the floor and, another season-best, 67 percent shooting from deep.

To put this into perspective, on the season as a whole, the former Cs franchise point guard is posting 27.4 points (more than an 11 point difference) and 4.8 rebounds (more than a two boards difference) while shooting 13 percentage points worse from the floor (51) and nearly 30 percentage points worse from deep (39).

With or without their big-3 or, even, a dynamic duo, so long as the Brooklyn Nets have Irving in the lineup, the Celtics will still have their work cut out for them, as proven all season long when squaring off against him.

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