Boston Celtics: Kyrie Irving leads in must-win against Raptors

Kyrie Irving leads the Boston Celtics past the 2nd-seed Toronto Raptors following a rough stretch of losses, questioning both Irving and the Celtics as a whole.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 117-108, eliminating their three-game losing skit against teams .500 and below on Wednesday night, improving to 26-18 on the season.

Even when they allow D’Angelo Russell to drop 34 and lose to Brooklyn, they come back and put on a playoff-like duel against the Raptors in the same week. That’s been the continuous aching and agonizing stress that this Celtics team has brought upon us this season.

This team will both destroy and rebuild your hope in an instant, embodying their primary issue of inconsistency. The Boston Celtics can both play up to their competition and play down to their competition, which is an issue that very well explains their 41 percent  FG shooting against the Nets to their 50 percent shooting against the Raptors last night.

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One team sits in the 7th seed while other has remained hovering amongst the top three for the vast majority of the season.

However despite the Boston Celtics three-game losing streak on a tough road trip in Miami, Orlando, and Brooklyn, Irving and the C’s returned home with a response. One that fires back at the critics who’ve questioned Boston’s chemistry, leadership, and overall legitimacy as a title contender.

An on-court response led by non other than Kyrie Irving himself.

Irving makes a statement

The Toronto Raptors entered the TD Garden winners of their past five games. However in a duel against Raptors leader Kawhi Leonard, it was Irving who finished with the upper-hand.

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Despite a 33-point night from Leonard, Boston managed to endure with perhaps one of the best nights of basketball we’ve seen from this Celtics team. Again, thanks to one Uncle Drew himself who came clutch with 10 points and 6 assists in the 4th quarter alone.

In the 4th with 1:40 left on the clock, Kyrie Irving brought the ball up mid-court and buried a deep three over Kawhi Leonard to extend the lead to 5 and cap off the night.

Irving instantly fired up the TD Garden crowd, flashing his jersey up- showing that he can indeed lead this Celtics team against the best the Eastern Conference has to offer.

Kyrie had a monstrous night on both ends of the floor, finishing with 27 points and 18 assists on 11/19 shooting from the field. Irving is the first player in the league this season to record a 27+ point, 18+ assist game. The 18 assists for Irving last night also marked a new career-high.

"“We’ve got to become more consistent, and once that happens, we’ll run over everybody in this league. I can guarantee that”, Irving stated in his post-game interview."

After the game Irving also mentioned that he apologized to former Cavalier teammate and current Laker, LeBron James in regards to their departure. A conversation in which Irving turned to James for advice on leading a young team such as this Boston Celtics team.

"“I wanted everything to be at my threshold. I wanted to be that guy that led us to championships. I wanted to be the leader”, Irving stated."

Well that very opportunity sits right here in Boston. Whatever went down in that conversation, it seemed to have worked; because last night that’s exactly what Kyrie Irving did.

The Boston Celtics next take on the Memphis Grizzles on Friday night. That game from the TD Garden begins at 7:00 p.m.