3 Duds, 2 studs from Mavericks' painful Game 3 loss to Celtics

2. Stud - Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving's performance Wednesday almost helped the team pull off a major upset. The Mavs' guard had his best game of the series, leading the team with 35 points.

The biggest eye-catching moment was his ability to knock down four 3-pointers. Overall, Irving knocked down 66.7 of his attempted 3-pointers. This was a major improvement from the first two games, as he struggled to knock down a single attempt from long range.

Irving did a great job attacking the basket. He demonstrated poise and patience in his ability to crossover defenders and find the open man.

His biggest moment came in the fourth quarter. After Luka Doncic fouled out the game, Irving did his best to carry the team. With 3:37 left in the game, Irving knocked down a jumper to bring the Mavs within a point.

Dallas however failed to pull through as that would be their closest attempt to making a comeback.

Defensively, Irving also did a great job forcing his opponents into tough shots. He does a great job using his body to make it difficult inside.

Irving's consistency will be critical if Dallas hopes to make history. Remember, Irving told Celtics fans that the Mavs would be back for a Game 5.