Kyrie Irving's return will finally fix the Mavericks' brutal Achilles heel

The Dallas Mavericks lost another clutch game to the New Orleans Pelicans last night, and Kyrie Irving's looming return will undoubtedly help them get back on track at the end of games. The Mavericks have played in a league-leading 23 clutch games this season, but they've lost 14 of these contests, which is at the bottom of the NBA.

Dallas is putting itself in a position to win close games, but it can't get across the finish line. Their clutch winning percentage is 22nd in the league at 39.1 percent, and this is unacceptable for a team that is fighting for ground in a loaded Western Conference.

The Mavericks often run out of gas at the end of games, and the shot-making just isn't there. Despite Cooper Flagg exceeding everyone's expectations and Anthony Davis playing great basketball as of late, they don't have a closer. They don't have one player whom they can give the ball to when they need an isolation bucket, and that's where Irving comes into play.

Kyrie Irving will help the Mavericks finally win close games

He is bound to return from his ACL tear at some point over the next few months, and his presence will help the Mavericks steady their clutch woes. Irving is one of the most clutch players in the NBA, and their offense will finally have a sense of direction at the end of games once he's healthy.

His dominance when the game is winding down dates back to his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, as his poise is elite in the biggest moments. He is fearless, even when all of the pressure is on his shoulders. This is a quality that you can't teach, and his all-time great handle combined with his incredible basketball IQ helps him create a great shot for himself, or others, nearly every possession.

The Mavs desperately need this type of shot creation in their lineup right now, and seemingly no one has been able to answer the call when the game is on the line consistently.

Flagg has had some big moments in the clutch, but he still has a long way to go before he becomes a bona fide closer. He can get to his spots and finishes well around the bucket with either hand, but he isn't the type of player who you can let cook in open space every time down the floor.

Fortunately for the Mavericks, Irving is, and they'll be in a much better spot once he's healthy.

Dallas is 11-19 on the season, and they are just 1.5 games back from securing a spot in the Play-In Tournament as the No. 10 seed. They just need to stay within striking distance until Irving makes his return, and his presence should help do the rest.

The Mavericks won't become title favorites by any means, but Irving's potential impact upon returning has quietly become underrated. He is one of the best point guards in the NBA when fully healthy, and Dallas should be able to stack up some more wins over the final stretch of the season.

The Mavericks would definitely have finished a decent portion of their clutch losses this season if Irving were healthy, as he has a knack for willing his team to narrow victories. 14 of the Mavericks' 19 losses were by 10 points or less, with four losses coming by five points or less.

Dallas just needs a little boost to finish games strong, and Irving is set to provide all of that and more.

The numbers speak for themselves.

In his last full season in Dallas (2023-24), he averaged 4.2 points per game in the clutch while shooting 60 percent from the field, 42.1 percent from three, and 95.5 percent from the free throw line. He was the true closer of that squad, not Luka Doncic.

Irving and Doncic helped lead the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals, and fans hope that he and Flagg can have that kind of success. It's going to be an uphill battle, but Irving's ability to put games away on his own is going to elevate Dallas' late-game performance significantly.