Inspired Kyrie Irving Leads Mavs Charge in West Finals
Kyrie Irving had a standout performance in the first half of Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, breaking his usual playoff trend and giving the Dallas Mavericks a crucial 1-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Kyrie Irving’s Early Impact:
During the first two playoff rounds, Irving had typically been a strong performer in the second half, averaging 15.1 points, compared to 6.0 in the first half. However, in Game 1 of the West Finals, Kyrie Irving took a different approach, attacking early and often against Minnesota’s top-ranked defense.
1st Quarter Surge:
Kyrie Irving, who had been relatively quiet in the first quarters of the earlier rounds, scored 13 points on six baskets out of nine attempts.
1st Half Dominance:
By halftime, Kyrie Irving had already scored an impressive 24 points, shooting 11-of-14 (78.6%) from the field. Commenting after the 1st quarter, Irving said, “First time for some guys. There were some nerves. I’ve been here before — need to set the precedent.” Irving’s aggressive start in Game 1 was reminiscent of his playoff debut in 2015, where he scored 20 points before halftime.
Irving in 2015:
“Just came out aggressive. I wanted to throw myself into the game and live with the results,” he said.
Irving on Wednesday:
“I know getting going offensively settles the guys. I gotta stay aggressive the whole time.”
Nine years since his playoff debut, Irving continues to elevate his team’s performance, especially in isolation situations.
Top Iso Defender:
Kyrie Irving leads the NBA this postseason in isolation defense, holding opponents to just 13.3% shooting. Irving ranks fourth in isolation offense this postseason, shooting 44% in 1-on-1 situations among players with 50+ field goal attempts.
Kyrie Irving scored 13 of his 21 points against the Magic using isolation. He entered Monday’s game having scored only eight total points from iso on the season.
1. Uses quickness and contact to work the bigger defender deep on the drive, and uses contact to setup the crossover… pic.twitter.com/69LLVC5XuW
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) November 7, 2023
Eager for Finals Return:
A 2016 champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Irving hasn’t been to the Finals since 2017. He is driven to return with a Mavericks team that hasn’t seen the Finals since 2011.
Irving’s Motivation:
“You get motivation from failure, and you get inspired … I’m not going to take this for granted.”
Irving’s exceptional play in the first half of Game 1 has set the stage for the Mavericks, who look to maintain their momentum heading into Game 2.
The Timberwolves led by 18 midway through the second quarter.
But the Mavericks pulled off an epic fourth-quarter comeback inspired by Kyrie Irving’s scoring and Luka Doncic’s triple-double 🔥 pic.twitter.com/urEj5SCEgG
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 25, 2024