Celtics’ Jae Crowder wants apology from Cavs’ J.R. Smith on Tuesday

“I hope he apologizes [Tuesday], to be honest with you”, said Crowder per Chris Forsberg of ESPN.

The Celtics forward told reporters in Boston on Monday that he “hopes he apologizes” and if not, then they’ll just play ball. “It has started with the way we’ve started this year out, but tomorrow night will be a good opponent for us, and I’m looking forward to it”.

Love had an angry response in the heat of the postgame locker room, but he and Olynyk are now cool.

The Cavaliers swept the Celtics in last year’s first round playoff series, which resulted in maybe the most significant injury of the playoffs, as Kevin Love dislocated his shoulder after a tangle and maybe an intentional pull by Kelly Olynyk in what might have been the biggest help to the Golden State Warriors championship.

If Smith sticks to his guns and holds his tongue on Tuesday, we can safely expect to see some fire emojis on the court when Crowder, the one-man defensive wrecking crew, inevitably asks to guard Smith, the freewheeling flinger. “But it’s a new season for us and we’re focused on trying to play our best basketball”.

Coach Brad Stevens, too, knocked down the carryover conversation. “He texted me back”, Olynyk said. LeBron James led the way with 25 points and eight assists, Timofey Mozgov added 17 while James Jones had 15 as the Cavaliers broke the game open with a 14-1 run in the second quarter before pulling away to an easy win to improve to 15-7 on the season overall and 5-6 on the road where they have lost two of their last three. “I think everyone on our team is up for the challenge with those guys”, said Crowder. We all know Kelly and we all know he did it inadvertently. “The Garden’s going to be rocking again like it was Friday night, and we’re going to be ready to play”. But the game can get competitive. Nothing they encountered during the regular season tested them as much as four games against one of the best players ever and his capable supporting cast.

This game will also be a more real examination of the Celts than last Friday. Even without Irving playing a single game, they now sit atop the conference standings.

The prospect of defending LeBron James is one that would make many foes shake in their sneakers.

The Cavaliers live in the East, the Celtics’ neighborhood.

Things got pretty chippy the last time the Celtics and Cavaliers crossed paths.