In a high-stakes postseason opener, Kyrie Irving showcased his scoring prowess for the Dallas Mavericks, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Los Angeles Clippers’ collective effort, as they secured a 109-97 victory.
Despite the remarkable combined effort of Irving and Luka Doncic, who contributed 64 points for the Mavericks, the Clippers displayed a balanced scoring attack led by James Harden’s 28 points and eight assists.
For Irving, the matchup against his former coach, Tyronn Lue, added an extra layer of intrigue, as the two share a history of success together, including winning a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Acknowledging Lue’s strategic acumen, Irving emphasized his attentiveness to the subtle cues and adjustments made by his former coach, with the intention of leveraging that insight to make adjustments of his own for Game 2.
“Me going against him as a player is a little bit different. I can see that he’s giving them little cues and I’m trying to catch every little detail so I can carry it on to Game 2 and make some adjustment myself,” Irving said postgame, via ClutchPoints.
