Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving showed up when his team needed it most Sunday against the defending NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
The Mavericks and Nuggets were tied as Dallas had the final possession in regulation. Irving received the inbounds pass with less than three seconds left in the game. He popped off the screen and curled up with the ball.
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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (age 11) scores the winning goal against the Denver Nuggets on March 17, 2024 in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving reacts after hitting the winning shot against the Denver Nuggets on March 17, 2024 in Dallas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
He dribbled toward the foul line, took a running shot with his left hand, and the ball went through the basket at the buzzer. Mavericks players rushed to Irving to celebrate the victory.
Dallas won 107-105.
“We believe in Kyrie,” Mavericks rookie Derek Lively II said. “Whenever you see him take the ball away, you sit back and watch it happen.”
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Irving finished the game with 24 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds.
“Sometimes I just spend an hour just practicing my left straight,” Irving said of the match winner. “Being a little guard, you have to finish a lot. And that’s something I’ve been working on since I was a kid.”
Denver came back from a 13-point deficit and gave them a chance. Jamal Murray hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 26 seconds left. Murray finished with 23 points.
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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, 11, poses with teammate PJ Washington, 25, after Irving hits the game-winning shot against the Denver Nuggets on March 17, 2024 in Dallas. and Tim Hardaway Jr. react. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
Dallas improved to 39-29 with the win. Denver lost 47-21.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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