Cavs rookie Irving scores career-best 26 in win over Phoenix

By Tom Reed

Cleveland Plain Dealer

phoenix

Kyrie Irving was 4 years old when Steve Nash — the greatest point guard of his generation — made his NBA debut in 1996.

The Cavaliers rookie grew up watching this wisp of a man, all 195 pounds of him, win a pair of NBA Most Valuable Player awards by leading Phoenix fast breaks and finessing balls into passing lanes the size of mouse holes.

Irving called the opportunity to play against Nash “an honor” before Thursday night’s game in US Airways Arena. He then showed the 37-year-old future hall of famer that he would not be awed by sharing the same stage.

The 19-year-old point guard and the setting Sun gave the crowd inspired performances in the Cavaliers’ 101-90 victory. Irving scored 26 points — a new high in his 10-game NBA career — and chipped in six assists in just 28 minutes. His 12-point, second-quarter eruption helped turn the game on its axis and allowed the Cavs to improve to 2-3 on the season-long seven-game road trip.

Nash wasn’t too bad, either. He finished with 16 points and 15 assists. All three of Irving’s fouls were taken trying to contain penetration by Nash. But the pupil got the better of the professor and the Cavs got the best of the Suns.

Cavs forward Antawn Jamison added a season-high 23 points on 10-for-22 shooting. Meanwhile, center Anderson Varejao contributed a season-high 17 rebounds.

The Cavaliers (5-5) won their third road game of the season. The club won seven games away from The Q all of last season.

The Cavs held an eight-point halftime lead and never trailed in the second half.