OAKLAND — Kyrie Irving just finished an interview with NBA TV and sat at his locker texting.
Wearing a plaid shirt and red-bandana patterned shoes, Irving had one interview left. But before he addressed a roomful of reporters, he told USA TODAY Sports, “I want to enjoy this, but I can’t. We still have work to do.”
What did the Cleveland Cavaliers guard want to enjoy? His playoff-career high 41-point performance that helped propel Cleveland to a 112-97 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 on Monday.
“You've got a guy like this who is very special, it's probably one of the greatest performances I've ever seen live,” Cavs star LeBron James said.
That James guy, he wasn’t too shabby either. He also scored 41 points, and it was the first time in Finals history two teammates scored 40 or more points in the same game.
They combined for 82 points, and unlike in Game 4 when Irving and James took a majority of the shots and lost, the two stars had a major impact on the game.
“At this point, it's whatever it takes,” James said, looking ahead to Game 6 on Thursday with a chance for the Cavs to force Game 7.
The Warriors were without Draymond Green, who was suspended because he accumulated too many flagrant foul points, but Warriors coach Steve Kerr refused to blame the loss and the sub-standard defense on Green’s absence.
“We weren't very good defensively,” Kerr said. “We obviously knew we were without Draymond, so there's no point in harping on that. We had to play better, and we didn't. Both those guys played terrific games (and) shot the ball well.”
The Cavs needed a game like that from James, but it was Irving who made sure the Cavs won. James had similar performances against Golden State in last season’s Finals, but he didn’t have Irving for the final five games.
“Just Kyrie being special,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “We talked about it all series that he is one of the guys when they switch one through five and try to make us stagnant, he is one of the guys that can create his own shot, with him and LeBron on the floor. We just took advantage of mismatches, told him to continue to stay aggressive and he had a great game for us.”
Where would the Cavs be without Irving? It’s possible this series is already over. Irving struggled to find his way in the Finals. He shot just 33.3% from the field in first two games. But in the past three, he has scored 30, 34 and 41 points and is shooting 55.8% from the field and 50% on three-pointers.
On Monday, he converted 17-of-24 shots, including 5-of-7 three-pointers, and scored 34 points in the final three quarters: 11 in the second, 11 in the third and 12 in the fourth. He scored in the paint, at the three-point line and with his mid-range jumper.
The decisive stretch came midway through the fourth quarter. Irving, who has a knack for piling up points quickly, scored 10 consecutive in a two-minute stretch. A three-point play pushed a seven-point lead to 102-92. A bank shot and a fadeaway made it 106-96, and a three-pointer gave Cleveland a 109-96 lead with 5:33 to play.
Game over.
“Timely bucket after bucket that led our team,” James said “The fourth quarter, he hit timely shot after shot after shot when those guys were trying to get back into the game.”
James had had praise for Irving all season, and they finally found a way complement each other late in the season. Irving has grown on the court, especially as this season progressed. He told USA TODAY Sports earlier in the playoffs that people misconstrued his game. He said he can fit in with any player, even James.
“The trust factor was just a big thing,” Irving said. “It's just been continuous and been consistent as we've continued to grow together. Just finding where he likes the ball, where he wants the ball, how effective he is around the perimeter as well as in the post and just giving him space to work, but as well as finding areas where I can be effective.
“The value of both of us as well as the rest of the team and how we're spacing is very important, and it just took a while to figure that out. But once we did, we just play our game and play basketball. That's what it's about.”
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
