Boston Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving has a particular set of skills. These are skills that make him a nightmare for opposing defenders just like what he was for New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis Tuesday night, when he used his quickness and elite ball-handling skills to find the basket, kill the Pelicans’ two-point lead late in the fourth quarter, and send the game into overtime.
Kyrie Irving's game tying layup that sent it to OT! pic.twitter.com/ZP028bogtp
— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2018
Despite Irving’s heroics, however, Boston would fall to Anthony Davis and the Pelicans, 116-113. Kyrie Irving led the Celtics with 27 points on 8-for-24 shooting from the floor with five three-pointers, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 41 minutes of action. Irving got plenty of help from the Boston’s bench that outscored the Pelicans’ relievers, 42-18.
Nevertheless, Irving just proved again in this game how valuable he is for the Celtics in the end game. The 25-year-old former Duke Blue Devil is tied with Minnesota Timberwolves shooting guard Jimmy Butler for second in the league among players with at least 20 games played this season in scoring during the last five minutes of a game with 4.0. First on that list is Irving’s former teammate LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers with 4.7.
On the season, Irving is averaging 24.0 points, 5.9 assists, and 3.5 rebounds on 32.5 minutes per game.
The loss to the Pelicans snapped Boston’s seven-game win streak, but the Celtics can pick up the pieces right away this Thursday, when they host Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Celtics are 7-0 in their last seven at home against the Sixers.
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