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.
Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving scores NBA season-high 55 points to beat Blazers
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:

kyrie-irving-1

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)

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Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images

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)

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Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images

51 vs Chicago (April 30, 2009, Pictured) 54 vs Utah (January 12, 2007)

Carmelo Anthony (four)

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David Dow

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)

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John W. McDonough/SI

51 vs Utah (January 15, 2007) 54 vs Phoenix (December 22, 2006) 60 vs Lakers (December 17, 2006, Pictured)

Kobe Bryant (23)

Kobe-Bryant-2.jpg
Jeff Lewis/Icon SMI

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)

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Gary Rothstein/Icon SMI

51 vs Miami (December 23, 2005)

Jamal Crawford (three)

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Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images

50 vs Toronto (April 11, 2004) 50 vs Charlotte (December 20, 2008, Pictured) 52 vs Miami (January 26, 2007)

Stephen Curry (once)

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Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

54 vs. New York (Feb. 27, 2013)

Kevin Durant (four)

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Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images

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)

Richard-Hamilton.jpg
Rebecca Cook/Reuters

51 vs New York (December 27, 2006)

Allan Houston (twice)

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Chad Rachman/AP

50 vs Milwaukee (March 16, 2003, Pictured) 53 vs Lakers (February 16, 2003)

Kyrie Irving (twice)

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David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images

57 vs. San Antonio (March 12,. 2015) 55 vs. Portland (Jan. 28, 2015, Pictured)

Allen Iverson (seven)

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Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty Images

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)

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Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images

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)

Brandon-Jennings.jpg
Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images

55 vs Golden State (November 14, 2009)

Rashard Lewis (once)

Rashard-Lewis.jpg
Shizuo Kambayashi/AP

50 vs Clippers (October 31, 2003)

Kevin Love (once)

Kevin-Love.jpg
Garrett Ellwood/Getty Images

51 vs Oklahoma City (March 23, 2012)

Tracy McGrady (three)

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Peter Cosgrove/AP

51 vs Denver (November 14, 2003) 52 vs Chicago (February 21, 2003) 62 vs Washington (March 10, 2004, Pictured)

Kevin Martin (once)

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Ben Margot/AP

50 vs Golden State (April 1, 2009)

Jamal Mashburn (once)

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Gregory Shamus/NBAE/Getty Images

50 vs Memphis (February 21, 2003)

Andre Miller (once)

Andre-Miller.jpg
Albert Pena/Icon SMI

52 vs Dallas (January 30, 2010)

Dirk Nowitzki (three)

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Tony Guiterrez/AP

50 vs Phoenix (June 1, 2006) 51 vs Golden State (March 23, 2006) 53 vs Houston (December 2, 2004, Pictured)

Jermaine O'Neal (once)

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John Harrell/AP

55 vs Milwaukee (January 4, 2005)

Tony Parker (once)

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D. Clarke Evans/NBAE/Getty Images

55 vs Minnesota (November 5, 2008)

Paul Pierce (once)

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Justin Ide/Reuters

50 vs Cleveland (February 15, 2006)

Michael Redd (twice)

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Gary Dineen/NBAE/Getty Images

52 vs Chicago (March 4, 2007) 57 vs Utah (November 11, 2006, Pictured)

Terrence Ross (one)

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Ron Turenne/NBAE

51 vs. L.A. Clippers (Jan. 25, 2014)

Brandon Roy (once)

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Steve Dipaola/Reuters

52 vs Phoenix (December 18, 2008)

Damon Stoudamire (once)

Damon-Stoudamire.jpg
Chris Graythen/AP

54 vs New Orleans Hornets (January 14, 2005)

Amare Stoudemire (once)

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Tom Hood/AP

50 vs Portland (January 2, 2005)

Klay Thompson (once)

Klay-Thompson_1.jpg
Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images

52 vs. Sacramento, Jan. 24, 2015

Dwyane Wade (three)

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Wilfredo Lee/AP

50 vs Utah (March 14, 2009) 50 vs Orlando (February 22, 2009) 55 vs New York (April 12, 2009, Pictured)

Deron Williams (once)

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Kent Smith/NBAE/Getty Images

57 vs Charlotte (March 4, 2012)

Mo Williams (once)

Mo-Williams.jpg
R Brent Smith/AP

52 vs. Indiana, Jan. 13, 2015


Published
Ben Golliver
BEN GOLLIVER

Ben Golliver is a staff writer for SI.com and has covered the NBA for various outlets since 2007. The native Oregonian and Johns Hopkins University graduate currently resides in Los Angeles.