Getty Image / Ron Jenkins
When Kyrie Irving is focused on basketball, he’s still one of the best players in the league. The Mavericks guard can do basically anything on the basketball court.
Kyrie has long been known as one of the league’s most creative finishers around the basket. But, I don’t think he’s ever had a finish as creative as the one he showed off to win the game for the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Dallas welcomed the defending champion Denver Nuggets to the American Airlines Center on Sunday. The two teams played a thriller, and Dallas had a chance to win in a tie game with just 2.8 seconds left. That’s when Kyrie Irving made what is probably the second-most memorable shot in his career.
Kyrie Irving with one of the greatest game winners you’ll ever see pic.twitter.com/4yNNkEnxa0
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) March 17, 2024
A lefty skyhook over the outstretched arms of Nikola Jokić? You’ve got to be kidding me, Kyrie. That’s an incredible shot for a 6-foot-2 guard like Kyrie Irving.
Ironically, up to that point he wasn’t having a great night offensively. Before that shot he was 8-22 for 22 points. No one will remember that though, as this is a shot that will be shown in highlight clips around the league for generations.
To make the sequence even cooler, superstar teammate Luka Dončić tied the game on this incredible shot.
This shot by Luka to tie the game down three with 26 seconds left should not go unnoticed btw pic.twitter.com/0eUWRK7Ik1
— Jo (@MavsStan41) March 17, 2024
Twitter went absolutely crazy when Kyrie made his incredible sky-hook.
Holy Kyrie!!!! That was incredible!
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 17, 2024
Left-handed runner from 18ish feet??? Kyrie is insane. Might be second best winner of his career.
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) March 17, 2024
That is why people say Kyrie is the most skilled. Unreal.
— Mark Gunnels (@MarkAGunnels) March 17, 2024
With the win, the Mavericks entered into a tie for the sixth spot in the Western Conference, the final position that avoids the play-in tournament. At 39-29, the Mavericks have 14 more games to solidify their playoff position.