For much of the fourth quarter Sunday, the Celtics gave us an unwelcome flashback to what they used to be, and what we hoped they never would be again.
After building a 15-point third-quarter lead in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series against Kevin Durant, dastardly Kyrie Irving, and the Brooklyn Nets, their advantage almost immediately evaporated in the fourth. The Nets went on a 15-2 run, seized the lead behind Irving’s extraordinary, exasperating shot-making, and led by 5 with 5½ minutes left.
It felt like the worst-case scenario was unfolding. Irving, who should never be forgiven for petulantly, pathetically quitting on the Celtics in the ‘19 postseason, played the game with a twisted vengeance, as if he was the one who had been wronged, scoring 39 points and picking up the slack for Durant, who had a rare chilly shooting night.