BOSTON -- Celtics All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving sent a group text message to his teammates before Game 2, the contents of which resonated with his teammates before they took a commanding 2-0 lead in a first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Irving, who attended Game 1 and sat on the bench during the first half, was not spotted inside TD Garden for Game 2, but his teammates said his words of encouragement helped them before Tuesday's 120-106 triumph.
"[Irving] sent us a message before the game today, just telling us what to expect," said Shane Larkin, one of Boston's ballhandlers thrust into a larger role due to Irving's season-ending knee surgery.