BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during Game Four of the Eastern Conference first round series against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on May 30, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Maddie Malhotra / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
A Boston Celtics fan was arrested and could face a lifetime ban from TD Garden after throwing a water bottle at Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving after Sunday’s game.
Cameras showed security officials quickly responding before the fan was led away in handcuffs. A report from Stadium said the fan had been banned for life from attending Celtics games, while other reports indicated that a lifetime ban was possible but not finalized.
The incident took place after the Nets pulled away for a 141-126 victory over the host Celtics to grab a 3-1 lead in their playoff series. Irving walked to center court and appeared to wipe his shoe on the Celtics’ logo before turning to head toward the locker room.
Water bottle nearly hits Kyrie Irving as he walks to the locker room following Game 4 in Boston. pic.twitter.com/RrtZth3cqt
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 31, 2021
Before he could reach the tunnels, the fan hurled the bottle his direction. The bottle did not strike Irving, but it caught his attention, and he and several teammates stopped and had words with the fan.
"It's unfortunate that sports has come to a lot of this kind of crossroads. … Just underlying racism and just treating people like they're in a human zoo."
Kyrie Irving speaks out after a fan threw a water bottle at him in Boston. pic.twitter.com/IXfE8I0EE8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 31, 2021
Irving drew boos throughout the game from the crowd of 17,226. He played for Boston for two seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19 before heading to Brooklyn.