Kyrie Effect: Celtics on Their 2nd Straight Victory

Kyrie Irving with a 21 point explosion to clinch 2nd victory with the green side.

No matter how close a game is, one team will loosen up, let its foe break away in the end for the victory. Kyrie and the rest of Celtics kept it head-to-head until the final buzzer.

Kyrie is Kyrie with or without LeBron James

Celtics holding on to a slim lead at the end of the 1st 28-25. Full throttle exchange of baskets took place in the opening 12 minutes. The Sixers held a lead up by a point, but Marcus Smart delivers a jumper followed by Aron Baynes.

Same scene exploded at the 2nd quarter. Gordon Hayward operates the offense together with Kyrie Irving hitting from the rainbow country, countered by the whole Sixers lineup to keep the raging Boston within striking distance. Celtics only up close 59-55 at the half.

Starting up the 3rd quarter, Sixers pushed the game to a deadlock (59 all) after a Jahlil Okafor and Jerryd Bayless layup quickly answered by a Kyrie Irving 16 footer countered by Okafor slamming the ball down on the other end. Run and gun battle throughout the 3rd but the Boston offense prevailed 91-82 at the end of the 3rd.

Momentum shift was slowly going to the Boston side, letting the lead grow larger, plus a crucial flagrant foul by Okafor. The sixers firepower started to wear-off. But they aren't completely out of steam as Jacob Pullen and James Blackmon Jr. executed magic passes to each other, catching up to as close as to 105-98. But last 2 minutes ain't enough for a comeback, the bench of Boston pulled off 112-101 final.

Scores:

Celtics - 112 Irving 21, Brown 10, Tatum 9, Hayward 9, Horford 7, bench - 44

Sixers- 101 -Bayless 15, Johnson 12, Redick 12, Simmons 8, Covington 7 bench - 41

Watch the full game highlights below:

(video courtesy of Rapid Highlights)