The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Miami Heat 111-92 on Wednesday night, with Dallas’ defense holding strong despite being on the second night of a back-to-back. The Mavericks have now won 16 of their last 18 games, indicating that they are firing on all cylinders as the playoffs approach.
One recurring thread in some of the Mavericks’ recent victories has been how they have found new methods to win games, as Dallas was able to overcome a significant drop in shooting efficiency in the second half against the Heat due to their tight defensive effort.
While Dallas struggled to score against Miami’s zone defense in the second half, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving kept the Mavericks offense afloat throughout the game with their tough shotmaking. Doncic had a poor shooting night from downtown, but he and the rest of the Mavericks played incredibly well together on defense.
Irving, on the other hand, not only played well defensively, but he also shot incredibly effectively from the field, finishing with 25 points on 10-15 shooting. Throughout the game, Irving made a number of difficult shots from all three levels, demonstrating how consistent he has been for the Mavericks this season.
The Mavericks do Kyrie Irving a huge favor that nobody thought was possible.
Irving has been mocked by the national media for his inconsistent performance in former years, but he has entirely turned that around with the Mavericks this season. Not only has Irving been constant on the court, despite some bizarre minor injuries, but he has also been a consistent leader and the clear second best player on this Mavericks team all season.
Irving’s steadiness earned him a monetary incentive from the Mavericks, as he received a $1 million bonus under his contract if Dallas won at least 50 games. The Mavericks would not be at the fifth seed right now if Irving hadn’t played 31 straight games, which is the most he’s played in a row since his Cleveland
When you take into consideration how many games Irving has played in a row to close the regular season, this isn’t even a feat that seemed realistic for Irving to reach when you consider the volume of games that he had missed around the January-February mark of the season. That being said, this bonus is extremely well deserved for Irving, and it couldn’t come at a better time as the Mavericks gear up for their first-round matchup against the LA Clippers.
This bonus seemed extremely unlikely for Irving even a month or two ago considering where the Mavs were in the standings, and his play next to Doncic has been a massive reason that the Mavs are considered a top contender in the NBA.
The Mavericks continue to do the impossible as they remain the hottest team in the NBA, and their mindset is extremely focused right now.
Stay in for more on Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks as they prepare for the NBA Playoffs.
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