Fan throws water bottle at Kyrie Irving after Game 4 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
A Massachusetts man accused of throwing a water bottle at Kyle Irving following a Celtics loss in TD Garden Sunday night is facing an assault charge, according to Boston Police.
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Cole Buckley, 21, of Braintree, is expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court on Tuesday on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
Buckley was promptly identified and arrested by TD Garden security following the incident. He is also subject to a lifetime ban from the venue, according to a spokesperson.
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Watch the incident below:
"A guest was arrested by Boston Police at the end of tonight’s Boston Celtics game for throwing an object. We will support and provide assistance to Boston Police as this incident is under review. We have zero tolerance for violations of our guest code of conduct, and the guest is subject to a lifetime ban from TD Garden," Tricia McCorkle, a TD Garden spokesperson, said in a statement.
"It's unfortunate that sports has come to this kind of crossroads," Irving said after the game. "Just underlying racism and just treating people like they're in a human zoo. Throwing things at them. At a certain point it just becomes too much."
It's the latest of multiple incidents in the NBA involving inappropriate fan conduct. During Washington Wizards-Philadelphia 76ers Game 2, a Philly fan dumped popcorn on Russell Westbrook's head as he exited the court with an injury. A Utah Jazz fan made lewd, racist comments toward Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant's parents during Game 2 of their series.
"We know how these people here are in Boston, and we know how passionate they are about Kyrie in particular, and they're still upset at him. That's no reason for them to act childish," Irving's teammate Kevin Durant said about the incident in a postgame press conference.
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Sunday night marked TD Garden's first game at full capacity since 2019.
