After going nearly 4 years winless in Boston, Kyrie Irving relished the Mavs' victory

BOSTON – Kyrie Irving knows how long it’s been since he’s left TD Garden with a victory.

He’s reminded of it every time he steps foot inside the hallowed arena. Every jeer that comes his way is a stark nudge that his former team has had his number in Boston ever since he stomped on the midcourt display of “Lucky the Leprechaun,” the team’s mascot, in May 2021.

There’s even a new championship banner hanging in the rafters that serves as a clear symbol of his Dallas Mavericks’ shortcomings in last year’s NBA Finals.

But nothing lasts forever. After eight consecutive losses in Boston, Irving finally snapped his skid as the Mavericks escaped with a 127-120 win on Thursday night.

“I was just trying to keep it as another game, but I’d be lying to you guys if I said I’m not aware of the record I have in this building since 2020 or 2021,” Irving said. “It’s more of a motivation factor for me than anything now because they’re the best of the best. They’re the champions in our league until another champion is crowned. You want to play your absolute best against them.”

Irving’s best wasn’t required of him for the Mavericks to emerge victorious on Thursday’s night primetime showdown against the Celtics. He finished with 19 points, four assists and four steals, but was supported by several of his teammates. Klay Thompson led all scorers with 25 points, while Spencer Dinwiddie scored 22 points off the bench. Naji Marshall had 20 off the bench. Two other Mavericks scored in double figures.

According to TNT, it marked the first time in franchise history the Mavericks have had three 15-point starters and three 15-point reserves in the same game. It was the first time the Mavericks faced the Celtics without the recently traded Luka Doncic on the roster, which called for a strategy that could likely be implemented going forward.

Irving scored eight of his 19 points in the fourth quarter, including two of his three 3-pointers. Irving’s first triple over Sam Houser followed a crossover into a stepback combination. As soon as the ball went through the net, Irving clapped his hands and yelled “C’mon!” It was one of the rare occasions Irving didn’t see a double-team by Celtics defenders, which was a common strategy that led to his struggles during the Finals last June.

“They’re going to do everything in their power to stop me,” Irving said. “I’ve said it in the past, but I feel like they feel like they know my game well enough. They throw double teams at me and a lot of different reads. It only makes me better. I’m just grateful. This is what competitive basketball is about.”

Irving is expected to receive plenty of defensive attention now that Doncic is no longer on the team, but he could have another All-NBA player in the lineup in Anthony Davis, his new co-star. Davis could make his Mavericks debut as soon as Saturday afternoon at home against Houston.

“We’re going to play through him,” Irving said. “Obviously, I’ll have the ball in my hands too, but we have that post-up threat. AD is able to get to the midrange and it’ll cover up for a lot of our mistakes and take the pressure off both of us.

“I’m excited. I’ve been seeing a lot of double teams on this trip and I’m excited for one of my other teammates – even Klay got double-teamed tonight. Don’t take it the wrong way, but I was excited to see him get doubled. It just makes the game a lot easier.”

Irving relished his first win at TD Garden in nearly four years, shaking the hands of every member of the Mavericks’ traveling party as he entered the visitor’s locker room.

Now, he’ll try to galvanize his troops for what could be a tumultuous homecoming in the Mavericks’ first game at American Airlines Center since Doncic was traded.

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