'Amazing!' Mavs Use Game-Winning 3-Pointer to Defeat Lakers in Kyrie Irving Return
LOS ANGELES — In Kyrie Irving's return to the Dallas Mavericks lineup, the team won their matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-110. Amid a tightly contested Western Conference playoff race, the Mavs improved to 36-35 on the season, as the Lakers fall to 34-37. ... with Maxi Kleber the game-closing hero.
"I've never had a game-winner like that,'' Kleber said after his catch-and-shoot fadeaway 3 at the buzzer. "Amazing!''
After beginning the game facing a 12-5 deficit, the Mavs continued to trail by a narrow margin throughout the remainder of the first quarter. However, using a 12-point scoring differential in the second period, Dallas managed to take a 62-54 lead at halftime.
As Irving continued is typical approach of playing within the flow of the offense to involve his teammates early, the Mavs had a very balanced scoring output. He led with 14 points and five assists at the half as five of his teammates scored at least five points. All but one of 11 players to check in scored.
As Irving sat on the bench midway through the third quarter, the Lakers made real progress in chipping away at the Mavs' lead. Dallas went from holding a double-figure advantage to seeing their lead cut to just three with 2:53 left in the period, prompting the Mavs to call timeout.
The Lakers managed to even come within one after Irving checked in, but the Mavs used an 8-0 run to close the period to lead 89-80 entering the fourth. The defense locked in during the stretch and Irving and Christian Wood managed to steady things offensively by making plays.
The Lakers opened the final period with a strong effort to rally back. After outscoring the Mavs 15-7 to begin the period, Los Angeles trailed by one with just under eight minutes remaining. Irving picked up his fifth foul with 6:59 left to play.
Using a floater from Dennis Schroder, the Lakers' lead extended to five points with under five minutes on the clock. Anthony Davis consistently posed problems inside for the Mavs, but it was his shooting touch on a mid-range look that pushed Los Angeles back up five with 3:16 left.
Irving steadied the game for the Mavs in clutch time, drawing a foul on a drive, then knocking down both free throws to reduce the deficit to two. Both teams traded perfect trips to the free throw line, but with Maxi Kleber being fouled on a 3-point attempt, Dallas cut it to just a one-point deficit with 7.0 seconds left.
With the Mavs playing the foul game, Davis splitting a pair of attempts accomplished the goal — giving them possession of the ball down two with 6.1 seconds on the game clock. After not playing for the entire game, Theo Pinson checked in place of Wood. After being left open, Kleber used the final play to convert a made 3-pointer at the buzzer for the win.
Irving finished his return to the lineup with 38 points, six rebounds, and six assists in 39 minutes, which was just under the goal of keeping him below 40 minutes of action. Other double-figure scorers included Tim Hardaway Jr. (12), Christian Wood (12), and Kleber (10). Wood racked up an impressive amount of stats with nine rebounds, eight assists, and four steals, too.
The Mavs return to action on Monday when they take on the Memphis Grizzlies. It will be the next chance for Doncic to make his return to the lineup.
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Dallas Mavericks? Click Here.
Follow DallasBasketball.com on Twitter and Facebook.
Follow Grant Afseth on Twitter.
