Kyrie sticks with mask
Bigger eye holes help guard light up Hawks for 30 points
ATLANTA — At the advice of the Celtics medical staff, Kyrie Irving put his protective mask back on last night. And unlike Thursday’s win over Golden State, the Celtics guard actually finished the night with the plastic device still in place.
But he did request some modifications in the gear, namely larger eye holes. It seemed to work last night, as he scored 30 points in the 110-99 win over Atlanta in his most efficient shooting night of the season.
“Felt good. Didn’t see me take it off as much, so that’s a positive,” he said after hitting 10-of-12 shots from the floor. “Saw a little bit more of the crowd tonight, the eye holes were a little bit bigger. The basket looked a little better. I was able to keep it on, and it was a better fit.”
Irving’s 11-point fourth quarter against the Warriors Thursday night was clearly empowered by his decision to finish the game without the mask — necessary to protect a minor facial fracture under his right eye.
Though clearly irritated by the mask, Irving agreed with the medical staff’s advice last night.
“For as long as I need to wear it,” said Irving, who added of who made the decision, “Just in the best interests of myself.”
Coach Brad Stevens made sure to steer clear of the decision-making process.
“I didn’t get in the middle of those conversations, I have no idea what was advised,” he said. “Like I said the other day, we highly recommended (wearing the mask). But, yeah, that’s not my avenue.”
Bad feelings linger
The friction between Dennis Schroder and the Celtics lives on despite the departure of the Atlanta guard’s nemesis, Isaiah Thomas.
Marcus Smart, with a Band-Aid on the left side of his nose the newest symbol of strife, was the latest to rub nerves with Schroder.
“Actually, I got hit in the jaw,” Smart said of a blow he absorbed in the third quarter. “And they told me it’s not reviewable, which made no sense . ... Then the very next play, same thing, Schroder throws his arms back, scratching me and scratched my eye and nose and they slapped me in the face. But no call. It is what it is.”
Second surge
Jayson Tatum has developed quite a second half feel over the last two games. He scored two points from the line in the first half Thursday night, before rebounding with a 10-point second half.
Last night, after a scoreless 0-for-4 first half, the rookie was even stronger — with all 14 of his points in the third, including a pair of go-ahead baskets and the C’s last 10 points of the quarter.
“I missed shots. I missed a layup today,” he said. “Sometimes shots don’t go in, but luckily it’s a long game and you get in your groove. Then you start opening it up.
“I don’t get down on myself; I know I can shoot. If the ball don’t go in, it doesn’t stop me from shooting.”