Kyrie: Celtics fans are 'like the scorned girlfriend'

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving may have left the Boston Celtics in 2019, but fans of his former franchise have yet to fully get over the star's tenure with the team.

After the Nets' tight 126-120 loss at TD Garden on Sunday afternoon, Irving acknowledged the cold reception he received from Boston fans throughout the contest.

"I know it's going to be like that for the rest of my career, coming in here," Irving said, according to SNY. "It's like the scorned girlfriend - wants an explanation on why I left but still hoping for a text back. I'm just like, 'It's fun while it lasted.'"

Despite the Celtics faithful's negative reaction, the 29-year-old had only positive things to say about his former organization.

"I'm just grateful for my time here in Boston. Everybody in the front office, everybody in the locker room treated me well. I still have lasting relationships in our league," Irving added.

Sunday's contest was the first time Irving took the floor in Boston since Brooklyn's playoff victory last season when he averaged 25 points over the five-game series.

However, it was the raucous Celtics fans that got the last laugh this time around, with Irving held to just 19 points. The victory pushed Boston closer to a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference.