After entering Game 6 with a 12-0 record in closeout games, the best in playoff history, Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving took over in the second half of their matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers to extend his impressive streak.
Perennial MVP candidate Luka Doncic did the heavy lifting for the Mavs in the first half, scoring a team-high 18 points. Though he was again unable to find his 3-point stroke (0-7), he continued to find success getting into the teeth of the Clippers’ defense. Meanwhile, Irving had only mustered two points, L.A. throttling his air space once he made it inside the arc.
Kyrie Irving Extends Impressive Playoff Record in Mavs Win
With the game knotted up 52-52 heading into the third quarter, it was anybody’s guess who would pull out the victory.
The Clippers were playing solid defense, holding Dallas to 39.5 percent shooting from the field and 25.0 percent shooting from 3. Yet, former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook went 2-11 from the field in the first half. They were missing Kawhi Leonard for yet another important postseason game. They were fortunate their role players stepped up, with Ivica Zubac and Norman Powell scoring 21 combined points.
Had Paul George kept it together the second half, L.A. might’ve been able to force a Game 7. They might had given Irving his first loss in a closeout game. Instead, Irving scored 28 of his team’s 62 second half points, including 15 points in the fourth quarter. For reference, George and Harden only managed to score three points in the final frame. The Mavs scored 27 points as a team in the fourth quarter.
Many of the shots that Irving hit were unbelievable. A deep 3 over Harden in the third that took the arena’s breath away. An and-one sidestep 3 from the corner after shaking defensive specialist P.J. Tucker out of his shoes. A sidestep baseline jumper over Amir Coffey with help running at him.
It was the type of performance that was reminiscent of his play in the 2016 NBA Finals. Matched up against Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, it was hard to tell who was the better player by the end of the series. Irving’s 41-point explosion in Game 5 is still one of the best playoff performances in NBA history.
Irving may never get the respect that many believe he deserves. None of that is to say that the resistance to holding him in a higher esteem isn’t his own doing. However, the fact remains that Irving is one of the greatest players of all-time.
His NBA record 13-0 record in closeout games is only more evidence of that.
