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Irving admits flagrant was to avenge LeBron: 'I gotta protect my brother'

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

Kyrie Irving has a message for the rest of the NBA: Don't mess with LeBron James when the All-Star point guard is on the court, or there may be repercussions.

It was early on in the first quarter of Friday's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers when Irving was assessed his second flagrant foul of the regular season for shoving Justin Anderson into Philly's bench.

Following Cleveland's convincing 122-105 victory at the Q that ended its three-game losing streak, Irving admitted that his actions were retaliatory for what Anderson had done to James moments prior.

"I kind of saw Justin (Anderson) kind of lower his shoulder and knock down 'Bron, and then that kind of took me out of the play and I was like, 'I hope he doesn’t get the basketball again, otherwise I gotta do something - I gotta protect my brother,'" Irving said.

"A lot of late hits on 'Bron, a lot of guys just trying to get one over on him. It’s over for that. It’s over for that. Just trying to protect anybody and everybody on my team."

Irving's first flagrant of 2016-17 came against the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 1, when he jabbed Paul Pierce in the gut out of frustration.

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