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Celtics fan arrested for throwing bottle at Kyrie Irving
Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving (11) dribbles the ball in front of Boston Celtics forward Jabari Parker (20) during the second half of Game 4 in the 2021 NBA Playoffs.  Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics fan arrested for throwing water bottle at Nets' Kyrie Irving after Game 4

By Erin Walsh  |  Last updated 5/31/21

A Boston Celtics fan who threw a water bottle at Nets star Kyrie Irving as he was walking off the T.D. Garden court following Brooklyn's 141-126 Game 4 win has been arrested, the arena said in a statement, according to ESPN's Malika Andrews and Tim Bontemps.

The fan was escorted out of T.D. Garden by Boston Police and was arrested "for throwing an object,'' the statement said. 

Irving addressed the incident after the game:

"You can see that people just feel very entitled out here," he said. "They paid for their tickets -- great, I'm grateful that they're coming in to watch a great performance. But we're not at the theater. We're not throwing tomatoes and other random stuff at the people that are performing."

Celtics star Jayson Tatum also chimed in, saying, "There's no place in the NBA for throwing bottles or anything at a player"

Sunday's incident isn't the first time a player has had something thrown at him this postseason. Washington Wizards guard Russell Westbrook had popcorn dumped on him by a fan in Philadelphia last week and Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young was spit on by a fan in New York. 

Ja Morant's father also said several Utah Jazz fans directed racist and vulgar language toward him and his wife while they were attending a game at Vivint Arena. 

The weekend marked the first time Irving played at T.D. Garden since signing with the Nets in 2019. When asked about returning to Boston before the game, the 29-year-old said he hoped fans would "just keep it strictly basketball. There's no belligerence or any racism going on; subtle racism."

Irving notched 39 points, 11 rebounds and two assists in the win. It was his best game of the series. 

The Celtics and Nets could meet for the final time this season in Game 5 on Tuesday. 

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