Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving scores NBA season-high 55 points to beat Blazers
Even without LeBron James, the Cavaliers extended their winning streak to eight games on Wednesday thanks to a 55-point effort from Kyrie Irving in a 99-94 victory over the Blazers.
Irving's point total marked a career-high, eclipsing his previous high of 44 points against Charlotte on April 5, 2014. The double-nickel also set a new NBA high for the 2014-15 season, eclipsing 52-point efforts by Timberwolves guard Mo Williams and Warriors guard Klay Thompson.
[youtube:http://youtu.be/vcNGt2CRzzw]
The two-time All-Star's record-setting night was capped by this go-ahead three-pointer with 6.4 seconds remaining.
The last player to score 55 or more points in the NBA was James, who posted a career-high 61 points for Miami against Charlotte on March 3, 2014. James sat out Wednesday night's game against Portland with a right wrist sprain suffered during a win over Detroit on Tuesday.
Most points since start of 2010-11 season
- Carmelo Anthony, Knicks: 62 vs. Bobcats on Jan. 24, 2014
- LeBron James, Heat: 61 vs. Bobcats on March 3, 2014
- Deron Williams, Nets: 57 vs. Bobcats on March 4, 2012
- Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers: 55 vs. Blazers on Jan. 28, 2015
- Kevin Durant, Thunder: 54 vs. Warriors on Jan. 17, 2014
- Stephen Curry, Warriors: 54 vs. Knicks on Feb. 27, 2013
Irving's final line: 55 points (on 17-for-36 shooting, 11-for-19 three-point shooting and 10-for-10 free-throw shooting), five assists, four rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes. The 11 three-pointers shattered Irving's previous career-high of six threes. Here's a look at his full shot chart:
added 14 points and five assists.
• MORE NBA:LeBron dances to celebrate Irving's record night
Cleveland improved to 27-20. Portland fell to 32-14
GALLERY: 50-POINT SCORERS OVER THE LAST 11 YEARS
50-Point Scorers Last 11 Years
James Harden (once)
Thirty-four players have scored 50 or more points in a game over the past 11 years, some, of course, more than once. Here's a rundown, beginning with the most recent occurrence -- the 50 James Harden put up against Sacramento on April 1, 2015.
Ray Allen (twice)
51 vs Chicago (April 30, 2009, Pictured) 54 vs Utah (January 12, 2007)
Carmelo Anthony (four)
62 vs. Charlotte (Jan. 24, 2014, Pictured) 50 vs. Miami (April 2, 2013) 50 vs Houston (February 7, 2011) 50 vs New York (November 27, 2009)
Gilbert Arenas (three)
51 vs Utah (January 15, 2007) 54 vs Phoenix (December 22, 2006) 60 vs Lakers (December 17, 2006, Pictured)
Kobe Bryant (23)
50 vs Seattle (April 15, 2007) 50 vs Clippers (April 12, 2007) 50 vs New Orleans (March 23, 2007) 50 vs Minnesota (March 18, 2007) 50 vs Portland (April 14, 2006) 50 vs Phoenix (May 4, 2006) 50 vs Clippers (January 7, 2006) 51 vs Phoenix (April 7, 2006) 51 vs Sacramento (January 19, 2006) 51 vs Denver (February 12, 2003) 52 vs Dallas (March 2, 2008) 52 vs Utah (November 30, 2006) 52 vs Houston (February 18, 2003) 53 vs Memphis (March 28, 2008) 53 vs Houston (March 30, 2007) 53 vs Houston (December 15, 2006) 55 vs Washington (March 28, 2003) 58 vs Charlotte (December 29, 2006) 60 vs Memphis (March 22, 2007) 61 vs New York (February 2, 2009) 62 vs Dallas (December 20, 2005) 65 vs Portland (March 16, 2007) 81 vs Toronto (January 22, 2006, Pictured)
Vince Carter (once)
51 vs Miami (December 23, 2005)
Jamal Crawford (three)
50 vs Toronto (April 11, 2004) 50 vs Charlotte (December 20, 2008, Pictured) 52 vs Miami (January 26, 2007)
Stephen Curry (once)
54 vs. New York (Feb. 27, 2013)
Kevin Durant (four)
51 vs Toronto (March 21, 2014, Pictured) 54 vs. Golden State (Jan. 17, 2014) 52 vs Dallas (January 18, 2013) 51 vs Denver (February 19, 2012)
Richard Hamilton (once)
51 vs New York (December 27, 2006)
Allan Houston (twice)
50 vs Milwaukee (March 16, 2003, Pictured) 53 vs Lakers (February 16, 2003)
Kyrie Irving (twice)
57 vs. San Antonio (March 12,. 2015) 55 vs. Portland (Jan. 28, 2015, Pictured)
Allen Iverson (seven)
50 vs Atlanta (November 29, 2003) 51 vs Lakers (December 5, 2007, Pictured) 51 vs Utah (December 20, 2004) 53 vs Atlanta (Devember 23, 2005) 54 vs Milwaukee (December 18, 2004) 55 vs New Orleans Hornets (April 20, 2003) 60 vs Orlando (February 12, 2005)
LeBron James (ten)
61 vs. Charlotte (March 3, 2014, pictured) 50 vs New York (March 5, 2008) 51 vs Orlando (February 3, 2011) 51 vs Sacramento (March 13, 2009) 51 vs Memphis (January 15, 2008) 51 vs Utah (January 21, 2006) 52 vs New York (February 4, 2009) 52 vs Milwaukee (December 10, 2005) 55 vs Milwaukee (February 20, 2009) 56 vs Toronto (March 20, 2005)
Brandon Jennings (once)
55 vs Golden State (November 14, 2009)
Rashard Lewis (once)
50 vs Clippers (October 31, 2003)
Kevin Love (once)
51 vs Oklahoma City (March 23, 2012)
Tracy McGrady (three)
51 vs Denver (November 14, 2003) 52 vs Chicago (February 21, 2003) 62 vs Washington (March 10, 2004, Pictured)
Kevin Martin (once)
50 vs Golden State (April 1, 2009)
Jamal Mashburn (once)
50 vs Memphis (February 21, 2003)
Andre Miller (once)
52 vs Dallas (January 30, 2010)
Dirk Nowitzki (three)
50 vs Phoenix (June 1, 2006) 51 vs Golden State (March 23, 2006) 53 vs Houston (December 2, 2004, Pictured)
Jermaine O'Neal (once)
55 vs Milwaukee (January 4, 2005)
Tony Parker (once)
55 vs Minnesota (November 5, 2008)
Paul Pierce (once)
50 vs Cleveland (February 15, 2006)
Michael Redd (twice)
52 vs Chicago (March 4, 2007) 57 vs Utah (November 11, 2006, Pictured)
Terrence Ross (one)
51 vs. L.A. Clippers (Jan. 25, 2014)
Brandon Roy (once)
52 vs Phoenix (December 18, 2008)
Damon Stoudamire (once)
54 vs New Orleans Hornets (January 14, 2005)
Amare Stoudemire (once)
50 vs Portland (January 2, 2005)
Klay Thompson (once)
52 vs. Sacramento, Jan. 24, 2015
Dwyane Wade (three)
50 vs Utah (March 14, 2009) 50 vs Orlando (February 22, 2009) 55 vs New York (April 12, 2009, Pictured)
Deron Williams (once)
57 vs Charlotte (March 4, 2012)
Mo Williams (once)
52 vs. Indiana, Jan. 13, 2015