Kyrie Irving's history in Game 5s should give Mavericks fans confidence

For the Dallas Mavericks and their first-round series against the LA Clippers, it will go at least six games following Game 4's 116-111 loss on Sunday afternoon.

However, Kyrie Irving's history of playing in the NBA Playoffs in Game 5 should give Mavs fans tons of optimism about Dallas' chances of taking a 3-2 series lead.

Irving got his first playoff experience in 2015 with the Cavaliers. In the only Game 5 Irving played in the Cavs' run to the NBA Finals before suffering a left knee cap fracture in Game 1 of the Finals against the Warriors, Irving scored 25 points while shooting 50 percent (3-of-6) from three.

Kyrie Irving's history in Game 5s should give Mavericks fans confidence

In 2016, Irving played in two Game 5s against the Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals and the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Irving scored 23 points against the Raptors and added three steals.

Trailing 3-1 in the NBA Finals on the road against the Warriors, Irving and LeBron James each scored 41 points. Irving shot 71 percent from the field (17-24) and from three (5-7). The Cavs won the NBA Finals with Irving hitting the go-ahead three-pointer in Game 7.

2017 would be Irving's last year in Cleveland as he would play in two Game 5's in the 2017 Playoffs. Irving scored 24 points to help the Cavs clinch the Eastern Conference on the road against the Celtics before scoring 26 points in the Cavs' Game 5 loss to the Warriors in the NBA Finals. Irving was then traded to the Celtics in August 2017.

Irving wouldn't play in the 2018 Playoffs due to having surgery on his left knee. The top seeded Celtics fell to the Cavs in Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals at home.

In 2019, the Celtics had a disappointing season and would be the fourth seed. After sweeping the Pacers in round one, the Celtics were eliminated by the Bucks in round two. Irving led the Celtics with 15 points in the 116-91 loss in Game 5. Irving would sign with the Nets in July 2019.

Irving wouldn't play for the Nets in the 2020 Playoffs in the Bubble with a right shoulder injury. The Nets went back to the Playoffs in 2021.

In Game 5 of the 2021 first round against the Celtics, Irving scored 25 points on 64 percent (9-of-14) from the field and 43 percent (3-of-7) from three. Irving missed Game 5-7 of the second round against the Bucks due to right ankle sprain. The Nets lost the series and were swept in the 2022 first round by the Celtics.

Since winning the 2011 NBA Finals, the Mavs are 2-6 in Game 5's. The last time the Mavs played in a Game 5 was in the 2022 Western Conference Finals when they lost 120-110 to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

Irving has a 5-2 record in Game 5s and averages 25.6 points per game. In Game 4's loss, Irving led the Mavs with 40 points on 56 percent (14-of-25) from the field and 50 percent (6-of-12) from three.

It is obvious that Irving can take his game to the next level, and the Mavs will need him at his best to win. The Mavericks are in the position to take a 3-2 lead on the road against the Clippers, and Irving has shown in the past that he can perform at a high level in Game 5s in the past.

For all the latest on Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks throughout the 2024 NBA Playoffs, stay tuned.