Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving missed the recent game against the New Orleans Pelicans, which resulted in a close 119-116 loss for his team. However, he made his return in the following game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In that game, Irving contributed significantly to the Mavericks’ victory, finishing with 25 points, five rebounds, five assists, and one steal. He shot 9 of 19 from the field and 3 of 8 from three-point range in 39 minutes of playing time. In addition to his stellar performance on the court, Irving also surpassed a legendary NBA player on an all-time scoring list during that game.
According to the official NBA.com website, Irving has surpassed Kobe Bryant on the all-time list for three-pointers made. Irving is now in 27th place with 1,828 three-pointers, while Bryant has fallen to 28th place with 1,827. The next player Irving aims to surpass is Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, who has 1,830 three-pointers in his career.
Last night Kyrie Irving (1828 3PM) passed Kobe Bryant (1827 3PM) for 27th place in NBA history for all-time three pointers made.
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) January 18, 2025
(h/t @LegionHoops) pic.twitter.com/VffJCaX145
Last season, Kyrie Irving and star player Luka Doncic worked hard for the team. They reached the NBA Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics in five games. This season, Irving is striving to lead the team to a championship. He is averaging 23.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.
Kyrie Irving Reflects On Dallas Mavericks- Thunder Rivalry
Fans at the American Airlines Center experienced a thrilling contest during the matchup between the Mavericks and the Thunder. This game was marked by a total of five technical fouls, which notably included a penalty on Lu Dort and a flagrant foul assessed against P.J. Washington.
Additionally, there were some heated exchanges among players on both sides, reflecting the competitive nature of the game. In the post-game interview, a reporter inquired about Irving’s thoughts on the ongoing rivalry between the Mavericks and the Thunder.
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“It’s personal. I think it’s the start of a healthy rivalry…We’re gonna be seeing them a lot over the next few years so it’s good that you set the precedent now what it’s gonna be like…When the pushing and shoving occurs, that’s just good competitive NBA basketball that we feel is only right at this point because we gotta protect ourselves. Somebody comes into the middle of the circle, starts pushing, you know it’s gonna lead to everybody protecting themselves. It’s good. It’s healthy.” Irving said (via Noah Weber).
Kyrie Irving on the Mavs-Thunder rivalry:
— Noah Weber (@noahweber00) January 18, 2025
“It’s personal. I think it’s the start of a healthy rivalry…We’re gonna be seeing them a lot over the next few years so it’s good that you set the precedent now what it’s gonna be like…When the pushing and shoving occurs, that’s just… pic.twitter.com/Lp7ow3ftiK
Star player Luka Doncic has been sidelined for the last 12 games due to a left calf strain he suffered during the Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Doncic out, fans are eager to see stellar efforts from Irving and Klay Thompson.
Also Read: Kyrie Irving Calls Dallas Mavericks Trade A Victory, Says He Was ‘Bad Goods’ In Brooklyn Exit
