His attempt made ABC's Mike Breen recall his legendary 2016 shot against the Warriors. Unfortunately for Kyrie Irving and the Mavs, this shot sent about twenty seconds from the end of this Game 3 against the Celtics did not go in.
The Texan leader had just created space against Al Horford before rising for a very complicated backwards shot from the right side of the field, at 45°, like on the San Francisco floor. Too short.
This award-winning basket would have brought Dallas to within a small point of its opponent. Instead, Derrick White, then Jayson Tatum, will be responsible for closing the debates to give Boston a third victory in a row. And generate its share of frustration for the artist opposite.
Author of 28 points in total during the first two rounds, with only 35% success, Kyrie Irving seriously made his points count take off last night. From the first possession, he got the better of Jrue Holiday to finish at the circle.
20 points in the first period
A gesture heralding his very big first period: 20 points scored! Sometimes struggling to finish near the circle, he, like his team, had more difficulty being effective in the third quarter. But he had to show himself again in the final period, especially when Luka Doncic was sent off.
“ I didn't really have a choice. It's unfortunate that this foul was called. Luka took his 5th and 6th foul in two or three minutes (editor's note: in 30 seconds), so it's tough. We always had to find a way to win. We gave the best of ourselves, especially being 21 points behind. We could have just given up, but we kept playing and felt like we gave ourselves a chance to win in the final “, judge the rear recalling the initial gap, in the 4th.
His message to his teammates in this context? “ It was a quick glance. We're in the NBA Finals, I don't really think about having to tell my guys that we still have a chance to win the game. » Once the Slovenian was on the bench, he responded on the next possession by scoring on a mid-range shot to bring Dallas within one point (92-93) with less than four minutes to play.
His next two attacks in the circle, one ended by obtaining two free throws, the other by an offensive rebound and a dunk from Dereck Lively II, allowed Dallas to stay in contact. Ditto on his beautiful caviar on the ground towards the same Derek Lively II one minute from the end.
He still hasn't beaten Boston since his departure…
“ I clearly could have done a better job of putting them in place compared to what was coming. Jrue (Holiday) took me all over the place, they knew they were going to put pressure on me, deprive me of the ball… I tried to make the right choice and make sure the guys were in a good position and make them understand that we still have a chance to win this match », Said the rear again.
The concern is that the Texans will not be able to stop the players opposite on defense in key possessions. Dallas and Kyrie Irving thus ended up giving up despite the latter's 35 points (13/28 on shots including 4/6 from distance). “ Kyrie was excellent tonight. It was a vintage Kyrie performance. It was not enough », could sum up Jaylen Brown.
His former teammate sees his streak of consecutive defeats against Boston climb to 13, but intends to end it in Game 4. It's a metaphor. We're going to go home, prepare the ammunition, the bazooka, the 50 caliber. Be ready because when we get to Game 4, we know we have to shoot and we have to do it aggressively. Personally, I'm going to go home, dust off my tools and prepare for a tough Game 4 “, he warns.
