With the game tied at 116 apiece, Irving came up with a game-winning bucket for the Nets. 0:33
On Friday night, Irving knocked down the first buzzer-beating game winner of his NBA career as the Cleveland Indians beat the Toronto Raptors.
The play was originally drawn up for Nets star forward Kevin Durant, but he told the team to switch it to Irving as they came out of their final timeout.
He was already cooking, so I didn't want to get in his way. Late in the game, we found him. I thought Ky should take the big shot.
He said he was confident that Irving would get a good shot because he was being guarded by VanVleet.
He's not a bad defender, but they're the same size. I felt like they weren't going to double him at the top of the key because he didn't have a 6-9 or a 5-5 guy on him. They allowed him to play one-on-one.
Irving's shot silenced the Toronto crowd and set off a joyful celebration on the floor for a Brooklyn group that appears to have found its stride after a rocky first month and a half of the season As his teammates jumped around him in a circle after he nailed the winning shot, Irving threw up a pair of finger guns.
Irving noted that this was the first time he knocked down a shot at the end of a game as the clock ran out.
The trust that we're building here is what makes it happen. Jacque had a play call that we were about to execute, and me and K had a conversation, and we decided to run the play for me. It was a good match up against Fred. One time, we got the better of him. I came into Toronto and hit my first game-winning buzzer beater of my career. I'm happy that we got this win, but I'm praying for more.
Irving, who finished with a team-high 32 points, made several crucial plays down the stretch, including a terrific pass to Yuta Watanabe for a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in regulation that gave the Nets a momentary 116- 114 lead.
Irving said he has a desire to be the best player he can be.
Irving said he wasn't comfortable. I want to do well in those situations. I haven't succeeded as much as I have failed. You can say what you want about me not hitting shots in the past, but the one time when you step up and make it, those are the ones you want to remember. Momentary praise is cool, but still trying to get ourselves together for what's to come.
According to Irving's teammates and coaches, they can see Irving's ability to rise to the occasion late in the game.
He has an inner peace and calm that you have to have in that situation. He has a way of getting to his spot. He wanted to rise up, he created space, and to be a guy of his size, to be able to do that against bigger guys.
The Nets' recent hot play has helped the group develop the kind of identity it has been looking for. He said that the identity was "versatile on the defensive side" and that they were going to hang their hats on.
Irving gave another reminder of how gifted he is on the offensive end and how much his ability with the ball can lift up those around him.
As soon as he took the shot, I knew it was going in.
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