Mavs LIVE in LA: Kyrie Irving Closes Door on Clippers in Dallas Win - Full Highlights
LOS ANGELES - The "warm embrace and genuine love'' is a wonderful way for this post-trade process to begin.
Now it's time for the Dallas Mavericks, featuring Luka Doncic sidekick Kyrie Irving, to win some basketball games ... starting Wednesday night here in Los Angeles against the Clippers ...
And DallasBasketball.com is in LA, too, live-blogging the day and night away ... Stay tuned here and re-check in often as we reflect from the baseline in Kyrie's debut ...
With the deadline trade with the Brooklyn Nets to acquire Kyrie Irving, the Dallas Mavericks went from being a team that needed to find a co-star to pair with Luka Doncic to suddenly being the only team with multiple starters in the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.
"It's been nothing but a warm embrace and nothing but genuine love,'' Kyrie told us on the eve of the Clippers game. (Slated to start at 9 p.m. CT on ESPN.)
FINAL SCORE - KYRIE PUSHES MAVS PAST CLIPPERS, 110-104
Despite not having Luka Doncic, the Mavs pulled off a huge road win against the Clippers. Newly-acquired Kyrie Irving led the way with 24 points, four rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. He shot 9-17 from the field, including 4-8 from deep.
"The most important thing we stressed as a team was just don't force the ball to me,'' said Kyrie following his debut. "You can play off me, I can play off the ball, I can cut. ... When 77 (Doncic) gets back, it'll be even more enjoyable to see."
All five Mavs starters scored in double-figures. Tim Hardaway Jr., who hit a huge 3-pointer in the closing minute to essentially seal the win, finished with 19 points on 4-9 on 3s. Reggie Bullock, Josh Green and Dwight Powell put in 18, 14 and 10 points respectively.
END OF THIRD ... MAVS BARELY HOLDING ON 81-78
After building a lead as big as 19 points against the Clippers, the Mavs find themselves in tightly contested game heading into the fourth quarter by the score of 81-78. Reggie Bullock leads all Mavs with 18 points, and Kyrie Irving isn't far behind him with 16 points.
In typical Mavs-Clippers fashion, the finish should be dramatic ... even without Luka Doncic playing.
HALFTIME - MAVS UP 60-52
Kyrie has been very much a part of the flow as Dallas got off to a hot start in the first quarter, but ... but the Clips went on a 12-2 run to shave a 19-point deficit to 8.
But the headline-grabber: Kyrie, with 13 points so far.
JADEN HARDY THROWS DOWN TRANSITION DUNK
Mavs rookie Jaden Hardy, who is coming off a career-high 29 points on Monday, took it all the way down the floor in transition and slammed it on the Clippers.
REGGIE BULLOCK CAREER-HIGH QUARTER As the Mavs poured it on the Clippers in the first quarter, Reggie Bullock tied his career-high for points scored in a quarter with 15 on 5-6 shooting from deep.
FIRST Q: MAVS UP BIG Kyrie went on a scoring spurt with eight points in 68 seconds and Dallas is in control after one, up 41-25.
Luka Doncic's thoughts? All about "bigger expectations.''
KYRIE'S FIRST BUCKET
Kyrie started for the Mavs in LA and Dallas has opened up a large first-quarter lead. ..
And there's Kyrie's first Mavs bucket.
KYRIE ARRIVES
After a polarizing tenure with the Nets, Irving is looking forward to turning the page and embracing a new environment. ... a new environment in L.A. for now, as he arrived earlier this evening ..
Before Irving was traded to the Mavs, various teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and LA Clippers, had been in the mix. Dallas ultimately got the deal done by sending Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith, a 2029 first-round pick and multiple second round picks to Brooklyn.
Irving is having yet another impressive season, averaging 27.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists with strong efficiency. By joining forces with Doncic, the Mavs now have the NBA's highest scoring duo this season with a combined 60.5 points per game being averaged between the two stars.
"Super excited, grateful for opportunity, really for wanted, and I know that they had to give up some pieces for me to get here, so I don't take that for granted," Irving said of his first thoughts
"I'm just taking it one minute at a time and, just focus on what I can control, which is how I come in every single day and be consistent."
Doncic remains sidelined as he recovers from a heel contusion, did not participate in Tuesday's practice but was to arrive in Los Angeles on the day of the game.
"I texted Luka,” Kyrie said. “He texted me, so just waiting to see him in person. I don't really do the phone calls and text messages. ... I like eye-to-eye contact with people and embracing them in a different type of way. It's just more human that way."
The earliest the two stars could play together will be in Sacramento during one of the two matchups they have with the Kings to wrap up their five-game Western Conference road trip.
"Am I worried about us coexisting or finding cohesion? No," Irving said when asked about any concerns fitting with Doncic, citing Luka as one of the rare guys ego “just plays at their own pace, scores a bunch of points and is constantly in an MVP conversation every year just cause he commands that much attention."
"I just want to play basketball and enjoy his talent and enjoy my teammates’ talent and … work towards the championship."
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