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Kyrie Irving: Boston Celtics star hit in face by teammate, gets bloody nose

By Alex Butler

Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving suffered a bloody nose after getting elbowed by teammate Aron Baynes Friday at TD Garden.

The play went down at the 10:10 mark in the first quarter. Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker drove the lane to start the sequence. He floated a shot over Baynes with his right hand. Baynes turned his body and hit Irving directly in the face with his right arm when he was falling back to the floor.

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Irving immediately felt the impact, throwing his body onto the court in pain. The Celtics guard grimaced in agony before holding his nose. He walked off the court with a towel pressed to his face, to absorb the bleeding.

Irving went to the locker room and did not return to the game. He was monitored for a possible concussion. The Celtics won the bout 90-87 for their 11th consecutive victory.

"We've been preaching next man up forever," Celtics guard Terry Rozier told reporters, according to the Boston Herald. "Lately, our team is dropping like flies. You just gotta be ready. Shane [Larkin] did a great job, stepping up, coming in today. You just never know in this league when your number is going to be called. We did a good job handling that."

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Irving did not score in the contest, missing his only shot attempt. He logged just one minute. Jayson Tatum and Larkin led Boston with 16 points apiece. Walker paced the Hornets, netting a game-high 20 points. He also had 11 assists.

"Everyone's got a job to do," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said after the game, according to the Celtics. "When it's your time you have to be ready."

The Celtics host the Toronto Raptors at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at TD Garden.

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