Celtics' Marcus Smart says he's heard racist comments from Boston fans

Brooklyn Nets guard and former Boston Celtics star Kyrie Irving generated headlines on Tuesday when he discussed hearing alleged racist comments at TD Garden in the past. 

Irving returns to the Garden for Game 3 of the postseason series between the clubs Friday, and it's the first time he'll play there in front of fans since he left Boston for Brooklyn in the summer of 2019. Celtics guard Marcus Smart told reporters Thursday he's also heard racist comments in Boston, according to Tim Bontemps of ESPN:

"Yeah I've heard a couple of them. It's kind of sad and sickening. Even though it's an opposing team we've had guys on your home team that you're saying these racial slurs and you expect us to go out here and play for you. It's tough. Like I said, we just want everyone to be respectful, on and off the court. We want that same respect that we give to fans and the crowd to come out here and put on a good show and not to interfere in that type of manner with them. We expect the same in return from us." 

Irving reportedly alienated teammates during his final days in Boston, and the Nets will head into Friday evening holding a 2-0 series lead. He may be enemy No. 1 in front of an angry pro-Celtics crowd, but the hope is any boos and chants he and teammates hear will be related only to on-the-court action.