Jokic on Irving’s game-winner: ‘If anyone could make that shot, it was him’

Mavericks star Kyrie Irving’s shot-making is second to none, and he proved that in Dallas against the Nuggets on Sunday.

With 2.8 seconds left and the game tied at 105, Irving made an impossible left-handed floater over Nikola Jokic at the buzzer as the Mavs (39-29) defeated the Nuggets (47-21) 107-105.

After Jamal Murray’s three with 27.7 seconds to go, the Nuggets went up 105-102, and on Dallas’ next possession, Luka Doncic, who had 37 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, would make a three to tie things up at 105, which helped setup Irving’s amazing shot.

Doncic, like everybody else, was shocked by Irving’s game-winner.

“Unbelievable, man,” Doncic said. “I don’t think people realize how tough of a shot that is. With the off-hand, like even to have a chance, I don’t think people realize how tough that is. I don’t think I have seen anything that special.”

Irving, who had 24 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, said the shot felt good coming out of his hand.

“It felt good,” Irving said. “It’s a play that we work on during shootaround pretty often, so it felt good to execute… (Nikola) Jokic taking away my pull-up going left. I had hit one or two tonight, so I knew he was gonna come up, but I didn’t know he was gonna commit like that. He was forcing me inside the 3-point line, so as soon as I felt him kind of behind me, I was like ‘Oh, I have my left hand it’s wide-open, why don’t I go to it’. I think that’s what happened [and] how I saw it. [It’s] just instincts.”

Jokic was not surprised that Irving made the game-winner.

“If anyone could make that shot, it was him,” he said. “I was surprised but also kind of not. He can make that shot for sure.” 

According to Mavs coach Jason Kidd, Irving will go down as one of the best finishers in NBA history.

“Kai (Kyrie Irving) is one of the best finishers in the league and probably is going to go down as one of the best finishers ever,” Kidd said. “His float game with the right, left — it’s just natural and he delivered.”

Irving’s shot was great, and the Mavericks’ win was excellent. They are tied with the Suns and Kings for the sixth spot in the Western Conference. 

The Mavericks travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Tuesday night.