BOSTON — The night began with boos and curses directed at Kyrie Irving. The night ended with chants clamoring for Celtics’ 15th man Tacko Fall.
Those deafening boos get a lot more quiet when the shots start falling, and for Irving the shots fell for 39 points in a 141-126 romp over the Celtics in Game 4.
This series is all but over. The Nets will look to tie a bow on it in Brooklyn on Tuesday night, then prepare for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.
A sellout crowd of 17,726 rowdy Celtics fans booed Irving at every opportunity ... on every touch of the ball, on every shot attempt, and cursed his name on every fleeting moment of silence.
That silence eventually became permanent. The best players rarely have two bad games in a row, let alone in the playoffs.
Irving righted his wrongs from Game 3, where he was a near no-show with a 6-of-17 shooting performance that generated just 16 points. In Game 4, he was every bit the player the Celtics wish re-signed long-term in Boston. He cashed in on transition threes, pull-up threes, drives to the rack and more. He even had a putback dunk with a backboard clap that got the Nets bench off his feet.
Irving’s dominance showed just how unstoppable the Nets can be when all three of their stars are clicking. The Celtics faithful jeered Kevin Durant in pregame warmups, cheering his every miss. There weren’t many misses to cheer when the arena flooded with fans, as Durant opened the floodgates for 42 points on a 14-of-20 shooting night.
He and James Harden combined for 80 points in Game 3 then hung 65 points in Game 4. This time, Irving came to play, and their combined scoring dominance opened opportunities for others on the floor.
Joe Harris shot 2-of-7 from three in Game 3 but hit three of his four attempts from downtown. Landry Shamet missed his only attempt in Game 3, then hit his only attempt in Game 4. That attempt came as a defender left him wide open in the corner to close out on Harden, who touch-passed the ball to the open shooter.
That overflow of attention on the Nets’ Big 3 ultimately cratered the Celtics defense. Bruce Brown scored 14 points, largely a beneficiary of Boston’s attempts to trap Harden in the pick and roll. Harden ultimately finished with 18 assists, a new playoff high, just by making the right read, over and over.
Those deafening boos returned as Irving sized-up Celtics guard Payton Pritchard with just over a minute to go in the fourth quarter. By then, the Nets held a comfortable 15-point lead, and Irving’s heat check careened off the side of the rim.
And shortly over, Tacko Fall checked in, giving the Celtics something to cheer for staring facing elimination in Game 5.
