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Kyrie Irving's unbelievable clutch gene earns Mavericks win over Rockets

Noah Weber
Noah Weber

The Smoking Cuban

Apr 7, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (11) brings the ball up on a / Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

With just under eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Dallas Mavericks trailed the Houston Rockets by 22 points. The energy was off, and Dallas' defense was not playing as well as they have recently.

Dallas looked bad to start the game, and the score reflected that. The Mavs hadn't faced this much adversity in over a month, but their ability to battle back and beat the Rockets 147-136 shows the type of team they are.

Dallas never gave up, and the performance of Kyrie Irving down the stretch was unbelievable to watch.

Kyrie Irving's unbelievable clutch gene earns Mavericks win over Rockets

Irving finished with 48 points, seven rebounds, and two assists while shooting 15-25 from the field, 3-8 from downtown, and 13-15 from the free-throw line. He played with poise during the entire game, but his performance in the clutch is what separates him from the rest.

Irving scored 25 points in the fourth quarter and overtime combined, and his shotmaking ability willed this team to a win. Dante Exum and P.J. Washington also made timely shots at the perfect time, but Irving took over this game like it was no big deal.

Whether he was hitting pull-up threes, getting to the bucket and drawing contact, or finishing with a crazy reverse layup after breaking down the defense, Irving showed that he is one of the best clutch players in the NBA, and no one should want to play Dallas in the playoffs.

Luka Doncic also dominated this game as he finished with 37 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists, and his ability to play alongside Irving is what makes this Mavs team so dangerous in the playoffs. Both players can take over the game at any time, and they are always genuinely happy to see the other succeed.

Irving and Doncic's connection is undoubtedly one of the best in the league when it comes to duos, and today they showed they can win tough games even when the odds are stacked against them. Irving continues to show that he is an outstanding leader, along with Doncic, and they have the potential to make a deep playoff run this season.

Irving and Doncic's next game is on Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets.

For all the latest news on Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, and the Dallas Mavericks' intense playoff push, stay plugged in with us

Noah Weber

Noah Weber

Noah Weber is the Site Expert for The Smoking Cuban, covering the Dallas Mavericks as a credentialed media member since the 2022-23 season. With a Bachelor of Science in Sports Media from Oklahoma State University, Noah has worked in sports journalism since 2019. While he's covered the Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma State Cowboys, he has now established himself as a go-to voice for Mavericks coverage. Noah's expertise includes in-depth game analysis, social media content creation, and offering unique perspectives through his reporting. His work has been featured on major platforms such as ESPN, Bleacher Report, and Overtime. During his time at Oklahoma State, Noah won first place in the Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association Awards for a show he co-produced. Outside of covering the Mavs, Noah enjoys working out, playing basketball and Spikeball, and spending quality time with friends and family.