Kyrie Irving Discusses Middle Finger to Celtics Fans, Reveals What Was Said to Him

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving was brilliant during Sunday's 115-114 loss to the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, but it was a moment with the fans that drew much of the attention.

Irving flipped the fans off in the third quarter after hitting a shot.

He told reporters after the loss that he had the same energy for them.

When people start yelling, there is only so much you can take as a competitor. I know what to expect and I'm ready to give them the same energy.

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Kyrie Irving is asked about flipping off Celtics fans during the game pic.twitter.com/yoJqZvtBMv

He said tobrace it when asked about the hate he gets when he returns to Boston. Don't let it get you down.

He signaled to the crowd at other times.

There is no love lost between Irving and the fans, even though he played for the Celtics earlier in his career.

He decided to join the Nets even after telling a group of Celtics fans he would return to Boston. He was booed when he came back as a visiting player and stepped on the logo in one game.

He told reporters that Boston fans booing him is similar to his girlfriend being dumped, and that he wanted a text back.

Boston got the final laugh in the back-and-forth between the seven-time All-Star and Celtics fans on Sunday when the home team won the first game of the series.

It capped off a thrilling fourth quarter that saw the Nets come storming back from an 11-point deficit and take a three-point lead on Irving's step-back triple with 45 seconds remaining. Jaylen Brown's basket, a strong defensive effort on the other end and a layup at the buzzer gave the Celtics a 1-0 advantage.

Irving was still impressive with 39 points, six assists, five rebound and four steals, but he will surely be on the receiving end of more taunting for Game 2.