In a 2024-25 NBA season marked by both moments of brilliance and struggles, the Dallas Mavericks needed a strong response on Thursday night to demonstrate their resilience. At home, they delivered just that, with Kyrie Irving leading them to a 120-112 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
Irving reflected on his decisive contributions after scoring the key points that secured Dallas’ victory. “A lot of pride, man, I wish it could happen every night,” the guard said in an interview shared on X by journalist Joey Mistretta. “When it goes well, you look great. When it doesn’t go well, you kind of fall short, you take the lessons not just from the loss but from both sides.”
The Mavericks had entered the game following two tough losses to the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers, and Kyrie acknowledged the emotional toll those games had taken on both the team and the fanbase. “Tonight was definitely one of those games where it could have been a setup. We played two emotional games in Golden State and LA. Coming back home, playing on our home floor, you feel the energy wasn’t at an all-time high going into halftime,” he noted.
At the break, the Mavericks led by just one point, but in the third quarter, they pulled away to a more comfortable lead, putting them on track for a win. However, the Hornets fought back in the final period, forcing Irving to exert extra effort to seal the victory.
Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks looks on during the second half of a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena on February 25, 2025.
“We had some newfound energy that we mustered up. We just had to finish this game strong,” he explained. “Charlotte is a good team, they’re a budding team, but at the same time you gotta take advantage of who’s in the lineup, who’s out of the lineup, and really be a mature, veteran team.”
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Irving’s performances this season
Kyrie Irving’s stat line of 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists in the win over the Charlotte Hornets is a testament to his all-around skill set. Throughout the season, he has been a key pillar for the Mavericks, stepping up in critical moments with standout performances.
Since the departure of Luka Doncic to Los Angeles, Irving has shouldered even more responsibility in leading the team. He has since averaged 27 points per game, putting up numbers reminiscent of the best stretches of his NBA career.
Jason Kidd praises Kyrie
Following the game, Jason Kidd also addressed the media and praised Kyrie Irving for his key contributions. “I think he’s been very consistent here in Dallas,” the coach remarked. “You can never take any star for granted… Just understanding what he means for our leadership, his calmness, his energy is at a high, and the guys play off of him. You can see that in tonight’s game.”
