Cavs’ Irving has ‘unstoppable’ performance

Associated Press

With the game ball safely tucked under his arm, Kyrie Irving stood under the basket and accepted congratulations from awed teammates following a performance none of them will soon forget.

He slapped some hands, hugged a beaming LeBron James and then handed the ball to the Cavaliers’ security director — a turnover of joy.

This one was a keeper.

It’s not every day you score 57 points. It’s not every day you bring the defending NBA champions to their knees. It’s not every day you upstage the irrepressible James. And, it’s not every day you leave Charles Barkley speechless.

Cleveland’s awesome guard did it all Thursday night, scoring a franchise-record 57, zipping around the floor with stunning ease and dropping 3-pointers from every angle like he was an avatar in a video game as the Cavs beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-125 in overtime, a game for the ages.

Irving was spectacular, stunning, and simply sublime.

“Kyrie Irving was unstoppable,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I don’t know how to guard that. He did a hell of a job. We all know how talented he is, but he really went to a new level tonight.”

This wasn’t necessarily a breakout for the soon-to-be 23-year-old Irving. More of a validation.

Irving has arrived.

After all, he’s already been a No. 1 overall pick, a three-time All-Star and regarded as one of the league’s elite in a stellar class of point guards. He scored 55 in a game against Portland earlier this year, and Irving has shown a maturity off the floor that has impressed even his toughest critics. This, though, was something more.

This was Irving’s apex.

“The kid is special,” said James. “We all know it we all see it and for him to go out and put up a performance like he did was incredible.”

Irving’s stat line was almost otherworldly. He made 20 of 32 field goals, going 7 of 7 on 3-pointers. He went 10 of 10 from the free-throw line and added five assists, three rebounds and four steals in 46 minutes.

His 57 points were the most in the league this season, broke the Cavs’ franchise record (James scored 56 in 2005), and Irving tied the record for the most points against the Spurs at home, matching the 57 Golden State’s Purvis Short laid on San Antonio back in 1984.

“One of the best individual performances I’ve ever seen,” the loquacious Barkley said during TNT’s broadcast, surely echoing the sentiments of anyone who stayed up late to watch two of the league’s best squads.