Kyrie Irving shot 13-of-28 from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line in Wednesday’s 106-99 loss to Boston, accounting for 35 points, three rebounds, two assists, and four 3-pointers in 45 minutes.
Having struggled in the first two games of the NBA Finals, Irving apologized to teammate Luka Doncic between Games 2 and 3. He stepped up on Wednesday, knocking down four 3-pointers and scoring a game-high 35 points. Irving was at his best during the first half, shooting 8-of-14 from the field and scoring 20 points. However, like many of his teammates, things took a downward turn during the third quarter, and the Mavericks’ fourth-quarter rally was a case of “too little, too late.” Irving, who has lost his last 14 games against the Celtics, will look to avoid being swept on Friday night.