Kyrie Irving’s MVP-Level Play Sparks Mavs Win Streak: ‘Going After Our Championship’
Before Kyrie Irving returned from a six-game absence due to a thumb sprain, the Dallas Mavericks were struggling, as they had lost seven of 10 games after blowing a 25-point lead to the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 3.
Since Irving has been back in the lineup, though, Dallas has been firing on all cylinders while achieving a season-best six-game win streak. During the streak, Irving has been lights out, averaging 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists while shooting 57.6 percent overall and 42.9 percent from deep. Although Luka Doncic has been the Mavs’ MVP candidate all season, Irving has done a great job of being co-MVP.
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“Proud of our guys that we’re making incremental progress,” Irving said after the Mavs’ latest blowout win over the San Antonio Spurs.
“It’s about us and everyone that’s in that locker room and continuing to get that work in on off days, and doing the little things to be prepared to play whatever amount of minutes that coach asks you too. I think once we matured in that sense of being able to lock into our roles, you’re seeing some highly successful basketball being played.”
The new additions of Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington have helped the Mavs out tremendously, but Irving was the catalyst for Dallas’ turnaround three games before those trades ever went down. Now, with Gafford and Washington being high-level contributors and seamless fits, the sky is the limit for the Doncic and Irving-led Mavs.
In training camp, Irving spoke about wanting to “peak at the right time” this season, and the Mavs are well on their way to doing just that after All-Star Weekend. They’re healthy, and they’ve received a considerable influx of talent and size, so now is the time for Dallas to make the leap from being a playoff hopeful to being a title contender.
“Now it’s time to get ready for the second half of the season,” Irving said as he walked off the court after Wednesday’s win. “Going after our championship”
