It was a home game Friday night — both for the Boston Celtics, and for Cooper Flagg.
The Dallas Mavericks rookie forward was technically on the visiting team, but the fans at TD Garden were out in force to support him as he returned home to New England.
A native of Newport, Maine, Flagg grew up rooting for the Celtics. And plenty of Celtics fans were rooting for him even as he took on their favorite team.
There were more blue Mavericks jerseys than you’d normally expect among the Celtic green. Some fans were doubling up, with Mavericks jerseys and Celtics hats, or vice-versa. The only player who seemed to get a more vociferous cheer than Flagg during pre-game introductions was Celtics star Jayson Tatum as he made a triumphant return from a torn achilles.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said he had never seen an opposing player get that kind of reaction — a positive one, that is.
“That was incredible. I’ve never heard a road player get a cheer like that, especially here in Boston,” Kidd said. “They tend to go the other way.”
Friday was a big night for Flagg and his family of Mainers. And it was also a huge moment for scores of Maine families who made the trip for his first pro game at the Garden.
Jane and David Lee of Belgrade were in attendance because of a Christmas present. She got her husband the tickets as a gift, and they were both enjoying the results Friday night.
“Merry Christmas to my husband,” Jane Lee said with a smile.
Her husband actually coached against Flagg when he was playing in middle school.
“He’s the best basketball player to ever come out of Maine, no questions asked,” David Lee said.
And though they’re both Celtics fans, they couldn’t help but root for the Mainer on Friday night.
The Graves family flew all the way down from Caribou to watch their fellow Mainer play in Boston.
“It’s amazing, and I hope that he can score a lot of points,” said Easton Graves, who was also hoping to get Flagg’s autograph.
His father, Evan Graves, is the athletic director in Caribou.
“It’s amazing to see a kid from Maine have that kind of success, and I think it certainly sets the tone for other kids, and they have a little bit of faith that they can do something special too,” Evan Graves said.
Two brothers from the other end of the state were also on hand Friday night.
“It’s just insane. He’s a trailblazer for the state of Maine,” said Caden Benedict from Freeport. “You’d never think that just a kid from Maine would be out here in the Garden. You can feel the energy and see the Maine jerseys everywhere.”
His brother, Rylan Benedict from Scarborough, shared similar thoughts.
“It’s incredible. It’s a different type of energy for sure,” Ryland Benedict said. “It’s different for him being a Maine native. A lot of New Englanders are coming to the game from all over. Yeah, it’s incredible what he’s done at such a young age.”
Though they’re Celtics fans, both Benedict brothers felt they had to root for Flagg and the Mavericks on Friday night. Bryan Sinclair of Brewer concurred as they all waited outside of the Maverick’s tunnel.
Among the sea of Celtics and Mavericks Jerseys, two others stood out.
Eric McMaster and son Christian McMaster from Brunswick were wearing custom-made Nokomis Regional High School jerseys in honor of the Maine school where Flagg played one championship season of high school basketball.
They, like so many in attendance Friday night, were locked in and ready to support a fellow Mainer on the biggest stage of basketball.
