Dallas Mavericks player Kyrie Irving pulled off an amazing game-winning performance against the Denver Nuggets that made a noise in the NBA world. Irving has accomplished one of the most amazing game-winning shots in all NBA history by launching a left-handed hook shot over Nikola Jokic’s extended arm.
Irving’s game-winning hook shot is the longest in NBA history, as stated by the Basketball Reference’s StatHead. From a distance of 21 feet, this is the 11th record hook shot in league history from at least 20 feet and the only one that has ever won a game.
Irving’s buzzer-beater
Although the NBA can’t track shots from 1996 until now, Irving’s buzzer-beater has been recorded as the longest game-winning hook shot in at least 28 years– probably much longer!
This is undoubtedly a rare shot in the NBA scene, even though nobody needs any specific stats or data from Irving.
The Brooklyn Nets marked Kyrie Irving’s return from an eight-game suspension with a 127-115 victory over Memphis on Sunday as the NBA champion Golden State Warriors finally earned their first road win of the season.
Irving, who was suspended by the Nets after his social media post linking to a movie condemned as anti-semitic sparked a furore, scored 14 points in 26 minutes on the floor.
Kevin Durant led the Nets with 26 and Ben Simmons added 22 as seven Nets players scored in double figures.
That included Japanese reserve Yuta Watanabe, who made four of the Nets’ 16 three-pointers on the way to 16 points.
“It was great to have him get some minutes out there and for us to get a win while he’s doing it,” said Nets coach Jacque Vaughn, who said he expected Irving and the team to be able to focus on basketball going forward.
“At the end of the day, now it’s about hoopin’,” Vaughn said of his message to Irving. “I used that word.
“From this day on that’s what we’re going to be about. Basketball is factual. You get the rebound, that’s a fact. You box out, that’s a fact. You make the shot, that’s a fact.
“So we’re going to make this thing factual. It’s about basketball and we’re going to live in that space.”
The row surrounding Irving, who was suspended a week after his late October post for failing to offer an apology, came the same week that Vaughn took over after Steve Nash was sacked in the wake of the Nets’ 1-5 start to the season.
They have now improved to 8-9, with former Rookie of the Year Simmons finally coming alive for the team he joined in a trade last season after his relationship with Philadelphia soured because of struggles with a back injury and mental health issues.
Simmons connected on 11 of 13 shot attempts for his first 20-point game since the 2021 playoffs for the 76ers — who will host the Nets on Tuesday.
Dillon Brooks scored 31 points for the Grizzlies, who were without dynamic star Ja Morant, Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson.
In Houston, Warriors sharp-shooter Klay Thompson burst out of his early-season slump with a 41-point performance in Golden State’s 127-120 victory over the Rockets.
Thompson drilled 10 of the Warriors 24 three-pointers, getting off to a blistering start as he scored half of the Warriors 40 first-quarter points.
The Rockets, last in the Western Conference, battled back to take a four-point lead at halftime, but Stephen Curry scored 16 of his 33 points in the third quarter as the Warriors reasserted themselves.
The tenacious Rockets managed to edge ahead by one midway through the fourth, but Thompson’s final three-pointer and a high-arching trey from Curry put the Warriors over the line in the closing minute.
“Well, long overdue,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, “but we’re happy to get the win.”
Nuggets stun Mavs
Denver’s Michael Porter hit the game-winning three-pointer with 55.2 seconds remaining in Dallas, lifting the Nuggets to a 98-97 victory over the Mavericks.
Denver reserve Bones Hyland led all scorers with a career-high 29 points as the Nuggets overcame the absence of two-time reigning Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic, who was sidelined along with Jamal Murray by Covid concerns.
The Nuggets were boosted by an incredible three-pointer from just beyond the half-court line by reserve Vlatko Cancar at the buzzer to end the first half.
In fact, the shot came after the interval, as officials decided to replay the final two seconds of the second quarter when it was determined during the break that Dallas star Luka Doncic had stepped out of bounds as he rose for what was originally scored a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers were in control throughout a 123-92 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, despite the absence of superstar LeBron James for a fourth straight game with a groin injury.
Anthony Davis scored 30 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Lakers and with the game in hand sat out much of the fourth quarter.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was not on the bench, and the team said after he arrived at the arena that he was ill.
Kyrie Irving has been off to a hot start this season, averaging 24.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists with his new team, Dallas Mavericks. The point guard has also formed a powerful duo with Mavs superstar Luka ‘Magic’ Doncic, who’s mostly known for his jaw-dropping hat tricks on court.
Although it’s probably too early to tell, the team has achieved success in their lineup this season; Irving has been fitting nicely with the team’s chemistry and has been instrumental in several of Dallas’ victories. So far, the team has a record of 10-6, and is currently seated in the fifth spot in the Western Conference standings.
But while Irving is experiencing progress with the Mavs, the media couldn’t help but ask about his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets and about how he, Harden, and Durant (the ‘Big Three’) failed to clinch themselves a Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
Irving: ‘It’s kind of like one of those times that got away’
On Sunday, the Mavericks went head-to-head against the LA Clippers for the second time this season. And although they had won the previous bout (144-126), the Clippers, who finally established their groove, outplayed them this time.
Amidst the players competing at the arena, though, are two teammates who were both part of the Big 3: Mavs’ Kyrie Irving and Clippers’ Harden.
And in seeing them together on court, one reporter couldn’t help but ask Irving in a post-match interview about how things transpired with the Nets.
Irving didn’t shy away from the topic and said that it was unfortunate for him, Harden, and Durant to become a part of NBA history’s ‘what ifs’.
He added that even with all the outside influences that came into play—such as the “vaccine stuff, and mandates in New York City, and just the ups and downs of scenarios and circumstances”—they did have a few successful seasons and performed well overall.
He proceeded to liken his time with the Nets to that of human relationships, saying that the Nets was like ‘the girl that got away,’
“I don’t look at that aspect of my career as disappointing. I think just think it’s kind of like one of those times that got away, the girl that got away, and it’ll hurt you for the rest of your life.”
The Dallas Mavericks had just knotted the Brooklyn Nets, 120-120, with less than 40 seconds remaining when Doncic nailed a hat trick that no one anticipated.
At that moment, the eyes of the crowd were riveted on the ball-playing Mavs star. Doncic had just taken his third consecutive three-point shot, and fans were eager to see if he would be able to lead the Mavs to victory.
Despite being meticulously guarded by Royce O’Neale of Brooklyn, Doncic was able to capitalize on the situation. He caught a return pass from Maxi Kleber and fired a fade-away one-handed three over O’Neil to give the Mavericks a 123-120 lead.
Astonished after witnessing Doncic’s unbelievable shot, the crowd rose to their feet on cue, clapping and cheering for Doncic as he delivered yet another magical moment on the court.
There were multiple cameras on the court to capture the moment, but no matter which angle the cameras were trained on, Doncic’s moment was still a surprise to everyone because of how he executed the shot under heavy pressure.
LUKA MAGIC. WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY.
4 straight threes… each getting progressively more difficult and more clutch… to reach 49 points and give Dallas the win.
In the end, the 24-year-old phenom posted a 49-point, 10-rebound, 7-assist performance, shooting 16-for-25 from the field, including 9-for-14 from three-point range and 8-for-10 from the free throw line, with no turnover, as per CBS Sports. The Mavs also won the game 125-120, taking their second win of the season.
When asked about the remarkable shot he had made in the aftermath of the game, he responded:
“I don’t know [how it went in]. I just saw it was, like, two or three seconds left. I said I just gotta put it up, you know? Gotta touch the rim so we can have a chance of getting the rebound … But yeah, I don’t know how I made that,” per BasketNews.
In addition, Doncic also stated that the shot was the most challenging of his NBA career to date.
Fans’ reactions to Luka’s performance
Doncic’s trick was met with another round of praise and applause from the fans on X, who called Luka “MVP” and praised him for delivering another masterful performance.
One X user said, “Luka is a wizard. He’s got the sauce. No one can stop him. He’s on fire. Dallas is lucky to have him. He’s a phenom. A game-changer. A boss.” While another one added, “If that’s not a MVP by definition, I don’t know what else.”
Finally, one fan likened Doncic to legendary player Larry Bird, writing, “The closest to Larry Bird since Larry Bird himself, just without trash talk and not dominating the game without scoring or having the ball, as Bird did. A charming Slovenian instead of a hard working, ultra competitive hick. Apart from that: getting closer every season.”
Devynne Charlton’s Olympic career was a big deal for her country as she qualified for the 2016 and 2020 Olympics and competed in major international events for the 100-meter hurdles.
Despite not winning any titles back then, she is now back to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Currently, she achieved her greatest performance at the 2023 World Championship, winning fourth place behind Danielle Williams of Jamaica.
Since then, she trained harder for track running to come back stronger and better this season.
Honored recognition
Charlton’s most recent accomplishment for her nation has earned her a new honor of appreciation from the Bahamian government. Being an athlete who competes in 100-m track and field runs internationally, she was awarded for her exceptional contribution to the sports industry.
She was honored by the Minister of Tourism, Chester Cooper, for breaking the 60m hurdles world record, and for bringing home a gold medal at the World Indoor Championship that happened in Glasgow.
“More records, more golds… I think I’m in the best shape of my life and only getting better,” she stated in a comment to CBC.
Charlton is now preparing for her Paris Olympics journey with high hopes.
The NBA has a storied past filled with renowned players and memorable events that helped to mould the league into what it is today. In addition, the league has been at the forefront of social justice causes, with players and coaches frequently using their positions to promote change on a variety of problems. With its stars being well-known and the league raking in billions of dollars a year, the NBA is becoming more and more well-liked.
5 players with the most 30-point NBA playoffs
Lesser well-known players also have an opportunity to stand out and establish themselves on a major platform during the NBA playoffs. Based solely on their postseason accomplishments, some players have even become household names and legends.
Overall, the NBA playoffs are a display of the best basketball skills in the world, with the most gifted athletes in the world battling at the top level for the basketball equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
1. LeBron James –
LeBron James, who presently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA, is recognized as one of the best basketball players of all time. Throughout his career, he has garnered various honors including two Olympic gold medals, four NBA MVP awards, and four NBA titles.
James is renowned for having a strong all-around game, as he excels at scoring, grabbing rebounds, passing, and defending. He is also renowned for his ability to inspire his colleagues and elevate their performances. James has regularly put up spectacular numbers and guided his teams to victory throughout his career, making him a formidable force on the floor.
Name: Le Bron Raymone James
Born: 30th Dec 1984
Position: Small forward/ Power forward
2. Kevin Durant –
Professional basketball player Kevin Durant is now on the Brooklyn Nets of the NBA. He is recognized as one of the league’s greatest players and is well-known for his ability to score his versatility, and his all-around talent.
The Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder) selected Durant in the second round of the 2007 NBA Draught, and he rapidly became one of the league’s top players. In his debut season, he earned the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Since then, he has won a plethora of honors, including two NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and four NBA scoring titles. One of the most gifted and successful athletes in the NBA, Kevin Durant is renowned for both his prodigious on-court abilities and his commitment to making a difference in the community.
Name: Kevin Wayne Durant
Born: 29th Sep 1988
Position: Small forward/ Power Forward
3. Stephen Curry –
Stephen Curry is widely regarded as one of history’s best shooters. Since the Golden State Warriors selected him in the 2009 draught, he has emerged as the team’s face, inspiring them to countless titles and breaking numerous records in the process.
Due to Curry’s distinctive playing style, many players and teams now place a strong emphasis on floor spacing and three-point shooting. Curry is well-known outside of the court for his charitable endeavors and support of social justice causes.
Name: Wardell Stephen Curry II
Born: 14th March 1988
Position: Point Guard
4. James Harden –
Harden is renowned for his outstanding scoring prowess as well as his playmaking and ball-handling abilities. One of the NBA’s most prolific three-point shooters in history, he has three times led the league in scoring. Harden is also renowned for his distinct playing style, which includes a variety of step-back jump shots and deft maneuvers that frequently astound opponents.
After being moved to the Houston Rockets in 2012, Harden rapidly cemented his position as one of the league’s best players. In addition to being chosen to the All-NBA First Team six times over his career, he won the NBA MVP award in 2018.
Name: James Edward Harden
Born: 26th Aug 1989
Positions: Point Guard/ Shooting Guard
5. Kawhi Leonard –
Before the Indiana Pacers selected Leonard with the 15th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draught, the California native played collegiate basketball at San Diego State University. Later, he was moved to the San Antonio Spurs, where he went on to win his first NBA title and earn Finals MVP honours in 2014.
The Toronto Raptors acquired Leonard in a trade in 2018, and he helped the team win its first NBA title in 2019 while winning his second Finals MVP award. A powerful presence on both sides of the court, he later signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019.
Name: Kawhi Anthony Leonard
Born: 29th June 1991
Position: Small Forward
There are 30 teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA), 29 of which are located in the United States and 1 in Canada. The NBA is largely recognized as the best men’s professional basketball league in the entire world and is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the US and Canada.
