Celtics super fan Nick Kyrgios ‘heartbroken’ over NBA boilover

Nick Kyrgios is still sidelined with injury from the tennis world but it hasn’t stopped the Aussie superstar from suffering a brutal loss.

Nick Kyrgios was all Celtics fans. Photo: Instagram

“It’s the hope that kills you”.

It may be traditionally a football cliche but just ask Aussie tennis star Nick Kyrgios how true it is.

The injured 28-year-old is on the comeback trail for tennis but the NBA uber-fan has shared a depressed update after his beloved Celtics crashed out of the NBA Playoffs.

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The Celtics looked as though it would be swept by the Miami Heat but bounced back to claim three straight wins and take it to a series deciding game 7.

Now 15-years since the Celtics’ last championship, Boston will have to wait another season as the Heat dominated to win 103-84 at home to crash out of the playoffs.

It means the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat will play off for the title.

Another Jimmy Butler masterclass inspired the Heat with 28 points, seven rebounds and six assists as Miami went from the play-in tournament all the way to the decider

And Kyrgios took to Instagram to share his bitter disappointment.

“I’m not going to let basketball affect my mental health but shout out to the Heat, good series,” Kyrgios said.

“Definitely as a Boston fan I thought we had the comeback. Caleb Martin turned into prime D. Wade in certain moments.

“Tatum’s ankle first possession broke my heart literally into about different 17 pieces, but props to him, he stayed out there and tried to do everything he could and be the leader he is.

“But just disappointed in this team. Another 82-game season, just broken hearted. Good job to the Heat but Jaylen Brown with the turnovers, we couldn’t hit the side of the ocean from three-point land.

“I’m just going to try and train now with my heart broken into 17 pieces. Go Celts.”

Would of preferred to get swept. What a putrid performance.

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) May 30, 2023

Kyrgios also cursed the injury to Tatum, posting: “Thanks basketball gods. You did this to one of the good ones.”

He also shared a video of a fan burning their jersey but he also added a picture of him with his niece, while he was wearing his Celtics cap.

Kyrgios looked gutted. Photo: Instagram

Brutal scenes for Boston. Photo: Instagram

Kyrgios was far from the only Celtics fan depressed by the loss.

But for the Heat, it continues a remarkable run.

Before this season a play-in team had ever won a series and now the Heat are in the NBA Finals.

Miami recovered from a gut-punch of a game-six defeat, where they fell on a last-second tip-in, to win the Eastern Conference final 4-3, silencing a loud Boston crowd.

Taking full advantage of an injury to Boston star Jayson Tatum in the opening seconds and a cold-shooting Celtics start, the Heat avoided becoming the first team in 151 attempts to lose a playoff series after leading 3-0.

“We stayed together as a group,” Butler said. “We talked about going to get a tough one on the road and we did just that.

“But we’re not satisfied. We’re happy. We’re ecstatic. But we’ve got one more to get.”

Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said he never doubted his resilient squad could win game seven.

“Sometimes you have to suffer for the things you really want,” he said. “This group has shown fortitude when there are inevitable let-downs and failures, but had that perseverance to pick yourself up, that collective spirit to keep on forging ahead.”

Kyrgios was not the only one. Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP

Jimmy Butler’s done it again. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

The Celtics were on the verge of history. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Tatum, who finished with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting, turned his left ankle landing awkwardly after a baseline jumper in the opening seconds. He grimaced often and took only one shot in the first 17 minutes.

“It swelled up,” Tatum said. “I was like a shell of myself. It was tough to move. It was frustrating especially that it should happen on the first play.”

Jaylen Brown led Boston with 19 points but had a career-high eight turnovers while Derrick White added 18 points.

“We failed. I failed,” Brown said. “We let the whole city down.”

The Celtics also shot just 9-from-42 from three.

The Heat, seeking a fourth NBA title and first since 2013, last reached the NBA Finals in 2020, losing to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Nuggets, into the NBA Finals for the first time, swept the Lakers in the Western Conference final.

With AFP

Originally published as Celtics super fan Nick Kyrgios ‘heartbroken’ over NBA boilover