Celtics notebook: Kyrie Irving addresses racism in Boston ahead of Game 3

Brooklyn guard Kyrie Irving, right, and the Nets take a 2-0 lead into Boston for Game 3 of their playoff series on Friday. Irving, the former Celtic, hopes the focus stays on basketball. Corey Sipkin/Associated Press

Kyrie Irving will play in front of TD Garden fans as a member of the Brooklyn Nets for the first time on Friday night, nearly two years after he elected to leave the Boston Celtics as a free agent in the summer of 2019.

His return now deserves some extra attention on the heels of his latest pointed remarks on Tuesday night, discussing what the experience will be like in front of what is sure to be an animated TD Garden crowd during the pivotal matchup between Boston and Brooklyn. Irving and the Nets have a 2-0 series lead with Game 3 at 8:30 p.m. on Friday night.

“It’s not my first time being an opponent in Boston,” Irving said Tuesday. “I’m just looking forward to competing with my teammates and hopefully we can just keep it strictly basketball. There’s no belligerence or racism going on, subtle racism, or people yelling (expletive) from the crowd.”

Irving was asked whether he has experienced racism in Boston before in the wake of those comments.

“I am not the only one who can attest to this, but it is just, you know (throws hands in the air) It is what it is,” he said. “The whole world knows it.”

Irving spent two years as a player in Boston after being acquired via trade in August 2017. He spoke of his desire to re-sign with the Celtics ahead of his final season in Boston in an unexpected announcement at a season ticket holder event but changed his mind about that declaration after the Celtics’ season fizzled with an ugly second-round exit to the Milwaukee Bucks. Months later, he signed with Kevin Durant in Brooklyn.

Boston forward Jayson Tatum is escorted from the court after getting poked in the eye during Game 2 against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. Tatum did not return, but is expected to play in Game 3 on Friday. Kathy Willens/Associated Press

JAYSON TATUM returned to the Celtics bench in the closing moments of Boston’s Game 2 loss in Brooklyn after suffering a right eye injury. However, Coach Brad Stevens said after the game the All-Star forward was ‘uncomfortable’ and struggled to adjust to the arena light after getting poked in the right eye by Kevin Durant in the third quarter.

“He went back out on the court – tried to readjust to the light out there, and he was really struggling,” Stevens said after Game 2. “He got scratched pretty good. It looks pretty red, it looks pretty swollen to me. I don’t know what that means – I don’t know what the exact diagnosis is. But he’s uncomfortable right now.

Tatum suffered the injury in the opening minutes of the third quarter after poking the ball away from Durant under Brooklyn’s basket. In the ensuing scramble, Durant made contact with Tatum’s face. Tatum fell to the floor and was tended to by Boston’s training staff for several minutes before heading to the locker room.

The Celtics get two full days of rest before Game 3, which should be some useful extra time for Tatum’s recovery. The All-Star forward did not speak with reporters after Game 2, but Marcus Smart was optimistic that he would be available.

“He’s good,” Smart said of Tatum’s condition. “You know, it’s unfortunate. You know, especially, at this level, at any level. But right now, when we’re struggling and our best player goes out with an injury, you know, it’s tough. But he’s in good spirits, we’re in good spirits. He’s going to be OK. I don’t think it’s as serious as most people probably thought, which is good for us, good for him. And, like I said, he’s in good spirits. I’m sure he’ll be playing in Game 3 and we’ll get right back to it.”

THE CELTICS will get some increased capacity crowds at TD Garden, the same benefit the Nets got in Games 1 and 2. But with the Nets at 5-0 on the season against the Celtics – 3-0 in the regular season, 2-0 in the playoffs – it’s still unclear if Boston can take a game off the uber-talented Nets.

“Game 3 is obviously kind of a life-and-death situation,” Evan Fournier said. “They did their job. They won two games at home, and now we have to do ours. Obviously, I don’t have to tell you guys that being down 3-0 is not a good place. So we have to regroup, stay focused, stay locked in, learn from our mistakes, and just be ready for a battle, period.”