In a dominant Game 6 performance, Kyrie Irving showcased his talent on both ends of the court, leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 114-101 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers and securing a spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Irving’s electrifying second half, where he scored 28 of his 30 points, was highlighted by a signature play midway through the fourth quarter.
With the Mavericks up by 20 points and the Clippers teetering on the brink of elimination, Irving dribbled with flair, crossed over a few times, and hit a sidestep three-pointer from the corner, all while being fouled by Clippers forward P.J. Tucker. As the ball swished through the net, his teammates rushed to celebrate with him. It was the moment that sealed the deal for Dallas, a snapshot of Irving’s brilliance and confidence under pressure.
“When I hit the floor, I was just squinting to see if it went in,” Irving said, reflecting on the play. “Seeing my teammates’ reactions, that was the best part of it. We knew that was kind of like the dagger in the series.” Irving’s performance in this closeout game maintained his perfect record in such situations, improving to 13-0 in games where his team can clinch a series.
The Mavs’ star duo of Irving and Luka Doncic was instrumental in this series, with Irving’s calm poise and Doncic’s tenacity complementing each other. Doncic, dealing with a right knee sprain, struggled at times throughout the series, but he still managed to put up solid numbers, averaging 29.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.5 assists in six games. Irving, however, was on fire, especially in the second halves, where he averaged 20 points and shot 60% from the field.
Despite the slow start, Irving knew his game would come around, calming Doncic’s concerns during the first half. “Never a doubt with Kai,” Doncic said with a smile, echoing Irving’s confidence. Irving took over in the third quarter, scoring 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting and helping Dallas establish a 15-point lead. By the fourth quarter, Irving was in complete control, scoring 15 more points and making sure the Clippers had no chance to rally back.
Mavericks forward P.J. Washington likened Irving’s performance to playing “2K,” referencing the popular video game, and noted his “Mamba takeover” mode. Beyond his scoring, Irving also excelled on defense, with the Clippers shooting just 2-of-18 when he was the primary defender.
After the game, Irving extended his respect to the Clippers and their organization, acknowledging the competitive series and the growth it brought him. “One of the hardest things to do as a competitor is to have your opponent concede or submit,” Irving said. “I want to take this time to give a respectful shoutout and also show my respect to the Clippers organization and the players. It’s always fun, and they got me better.”
With the series in the rearview mirror, the Mavericks now look ahead to their next challenge, a matchup with the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. With Irving’s clutch play and Doncic’s leadership, the Mavericks are poised to make a deep playoff run.
