Kyrie Irving seems to have a knack for having big games when he’s on national television, and Thursday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs on TNT turned out to be no different for the scoring point guard.
In fact, this particular game turned into a career night for Irving, who scored an NBA season-high of 57 points on 20-of-32 shooting from the field, including a perfect seven-of-seven from the 3-point line and 10-of-10 from the stripe, to go with three rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Six of those points came in the final 31 seconds of the fourth quarter when the game appeared to be over with the Cleveland Cavaliers down 110-104. With four seconds left in the game and the Spurs up by three points, Kawhi Leonard had a chance to seal the game with two free throws after getting fouled. He missed both, however, and Irving hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
The Cavaliers eventually went on to win 128-125, and plenty of players around the league were mesmerized by what they saw:
Wow! That was impressive what Kyrie just did#hoophead
— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) March 13, 2015
That would have somehow been a totally forgettable game if Kawhi makes a free throw — Dan Le Batard Show (@LeBatardShow) March 13, 2015
@KyrieIrving one of the best performances I have ever seen!!
— Isiah Thomas (@iamisiahthomas) March 13, 2015
Momma… #WhatAGame — Mark Jackson (@MarkJackson13) March 13, 2015
Them boys can’t miss out there
— Marcus Thornton (@OfficialMT23) March 13, 2015
What a game!!!!!!!! — Greivis Vasquez (@greivisvasquez) March 13, 2015
I see uncle drew is in SA tonight.. Sheesh
— C.J. Miles (@masfresco) March 13, 2015
WHAT A GAME.!! #NBA — JAE CROWDER (@CJC9BOSS) March 13, 2015
Damn Ky…
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) March 13, 2015
Kyrie!!!! — Isiah Thomas (@iamisiahthomas) March 13, 2015
Kyrie is outta hos body hahahahaha…WOW
— Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) March 13, 2015
Look at the flick of the wrist lol… That boy is COOKIN!!! — Isaiah Thomas (@Isaiah_Thomas) March 13, 2015
Kyrie!!! #wow!
— Willie Green (@DetroitWillie34) March 13, 2015
dear god. — Kendall Marshall (@KButter5) March 13, 2015
It keeps getting better. Big play after big play
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) March 13, 2015
This is basketball at its best. What a game!! — Nik Stauskas (@NStauskas11) March 13, 2015
Best game of the year by far
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) March 13, 2015
Was about to go to sleep but I ain’t bout to miss this Kyrie show #thatboycold — Mo Williams (@mowilliams) March 13, 2015
Mama there goes that Man. #TheLand
— BoobysWorld.Com (@BooBysWorld1) March 13, 2015
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh — Ekpe Udoh (@EkpeUdoh) March 13, 2015
Kyrie completely took this game over!!!! Wow
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) March 13, 2015
Wow!!!! — C.J. Watson (@Quietstorm_32) March 13, 2015
What???
— Bismack Biyombo (@bismackbiyombo0) March 13, 2015
Jim Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @Sheridanblog.