The Dallas Mavericks proved they weren’t afraid of smoke on Sunday, upsetting the reigning champs Denver Nuggets 107-105 in a heart-pausing finish. It was a back-and-forth affair, but clutch buckets by Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic down the stretch sealed the deal for Dallas. Did tonight’s performance make Kai the most skilled player ever to play in the NBA? Well, Atlanta Hawks’ superstar Trae Young surely seems to think so!

With the clock winding down and the score tied, Kyrie Irving stepped into the spotlight. Fading away over a bewildered Nikola Jokic, Irving sank a left-handed prayer that would make a preacher jealous. The buzzer-beater capped off a stellar 24-point performance, all while observing Ramadan.

Kyrie didn’t just shock the fans and opponents; even his partner-in-shooting, Luka, was apparently taken aback, with a look on his face like he couldn’t believe what he was seeing

Luka Doncic wasn’t just Irving’s sidekick in this win. The Slovenian superstar poured in a game-high 37 points. His clutch 3 with 24 seconds remaining. The Mavericks showed a side rarely seen this season—a team with a mean streak. They bullied the Nuggets in the paint, grabbing a whopping 21 offensive rebounds compared to Denver’s measly 6. This newfound physicality paid off, as they held the Nuggets to a pedestrian 71 points in the final 3 quarters.

Breakdown of Kyrie’s Greatness

Doncic and Irving wasted no time in putting out heaters, combining for the first 10 points of the game. However, Denver countered with drives to the basket and free throws, forcing a Dallas timeout. The Mavericks’ initial offensive burst fizzled, and Coach Kidd was forced to call another timeout after an easy Jokic layup. Despite offensive struggles, Dallas managed to stay close, trailing 34-30 after the first quarter.

The 2nd quarter saw Dallas briefly take the lead before Denver responded. Doncic found his rhythm from the 3-point range, hitting two back-to-back shots after a slow start. Despite Dallas’ efforts, Denver held a narrow 61-58 lead at halftime. And then we saw a shift in momentum by the time 3rd quarter ended. Jokic’s threat continued to trouble Dallas, but the Mavericks responded with a 9-0 run. Strong defense and clutch shooting from Irving helped Dallas close the quarter with an 84-79 lead.

Trending

LeBron James’ Family Wants Him to End Career But Ex-Lakers Star Uses 16YO Bryce James To Make Tempting Offer

May 12, 2024 05:17 AM EDT

Lakers News: Jeanie Buss’ Locker Room Solution Will Please LeBron James & Trigger Box Office Drama

May 12, 2024 03:00 AM EDT

Shaunie Wouldn’t Have Married Keion Henderson After Shaquille O’Neal Divorce if Not for This Reason

May 12, 2024 01:46 PM EDT

Lakers News: JJ Redick Advised To Find Hope In Steph Curry’s Favorite Person As Jeanie Buss Interest Grows

May 12, 2024 06:18 AM EDT

Lakers News: Threat Around JJ Redick’s LA Gig Ends Shocking $50 Million News From American State Breaks NBA World

May 12, 2024 04:04 AM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest NBA stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Dallas maintained its defense in the 4th quarter. The Nuggets managed to pull within 6 points on two occasions, but the Mavericks answered with big shots. It appeared Dallas might run away with the game after building a 13-point lead, but Denver responded with back-to-back 3’s to keep things interesting.

Coach Kidd opted for a defensive lineup, but their offense lagged, scoring only 4 points in the final 6 minutes. This helped Denver to tie the game with a Murray 3-pointer with barely any time remaining. However, Doncic answered with a clutch three-pointer of his own to tie the game and set the stage for Irving’s “greatest night ever”. With the score tied and the clock ticking down, Irving jumped up to the occasion. He launched an insane left-handed shot over Jokic as the buzzer sounded, sending the American Airlines Center into a mad frenzy and the rest was history!

This win is a loud and clear message from the Mavericks: they’re here to play, and they have the firepower to make a deep playoff run. With Doncic and Irving on fire, the future looks bright in Dallas. But if they want to challenge for the championship, they’ll need to find a way to keep their foot on the gas. But one thing’s clear after this game, Kyrie is “him” and Trae would agree!

Was Kyrie Irving Fasting During Mavs-Nuggets Blockbuster? Best Ramadan Performances of NBA’s 8x All-Star