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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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Eight-time All-Star Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving, who as you'll recall was responsible for a clutch bucket so awesome it was nicknamed "The Shot" (an eventual Game 7-winning triple against the reigning champion Golden State Warriors to complete the NBA Finals' only 3-1 series comeback ever), had perhaps the craziest clutch shots of his life last night. The 6'2" vet helped Dallas stave off an attempted rally from the league's latest reigning champion, the Denver Nuggets, by nailing a bonkers left-handed floater at the foul line. It was, quite simply, insane.
The moment was so monumental, Dallas' X account quickly compiled a collection showcasing the jumper from every angle it could muster. It looks just as impressive everywhere else, too. Irving remains an absolute wizard with the rock.
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After demading to be flipped from the Brooklyn Nets, Irving was shipped off to the Mavericks ahead of last season's trade deadline, in exchange for a single first round draft pick, versatile wing defender Dorian Finney-Smith, and point guard Spencer Dinwiddie. Hardly a superstar haul, but Irving's erratic behavior off the court, compounded by health issues (plus his then-expiring contract) made him a less appetizing trade target than he otherwise would have been. Now, in the midst of the first season of a lucrative three-year, $120 million new deal with Dallas, he and All-NBA backcourt mate Luka Doncic have the team looking like potential first round playoff spoilers in a loaded Western Conference, precisely thanks to their ability to do stuff like this at the ends of games against elite rivals.
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In that Dallas game, the Nuggets trailed by eight points with had trailed by nine points, 100-91, with 4:40 remaining in regulation. But being the unkillable force they are, they gradually, methodically chipped away at the home team's edge. A turnaround five-footer Nikola Jokic jumper and a pull-up Jamal Murray triple helped cap a 14-2 Denver run late, putting the Nuggets up 105-102 with 28 seconds left. But Denver somehow left Doncic wide open (look how late Aaron Gordon is in sliding over to put a hand up in the clip below), and he iced a 30-foot trey off a Maxi Kleber dish.
Irving's miracle moment wrapped up the game and dealt Dallas the win. This year, Irving is averaging 25.4 points on .490/.415/.907 shooting splits, 5.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds across 46 games. Availability issues continue to dog him. According to Bill Simmons of The Ringer, Irving's 19 straight played games during this latest stretch represents the most consecutive regular season contests he's played in eight years. Keep in mind, he's still just 31.
"Sometimes I spend just an hour straight just working on straight left-hand stuff," Irving remarked to the press afterward, per Schuyler Dixon of The Associated Press/NBA.com. "Just being a small guard, you've just got to have a multitude of finishes. And that's something I've been working on since I was a kid."
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