Irving explodes for 32 points as Mavs defeat Hawks, 129-119

On By Littum

ATLANTA – Kyrie Irving put on a shooting clinic in the fourth quarter on Monday night as he led the Dallas Mavericks to a 129-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.

Irving scored 16 of his game-high 32 points in the game’s final 8:25 — some of them in dazzling fashion — and the Mavs rode his hot hand to a victory that increased their record to 10-8. Finishing this road trip with a 2-1 record, the Mavs head home to host the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

With a few players battling injuries and illnesses, the Mavs shook it off and rallied from a 13-point deficit to hold off the Hawks, who dropped to 7-11. It was a gut-check type of game from the Mavs, who had a 109-107 lead when Irving decided it was time for him to shift into another gear.

With a sellout crowd of 17,186 on pins and needles, Irving drained three-pointer after three-pointer after three-pointer to cut the Mavs’ lead to 118-109 with 5:25 left in the game. Shortly after a PJ Washington bucket from downtown stretched Dallas’ lead to 121-111, Irving fed Maxi Kleber for a dunk and a 123-115 lead.

From there, Spencer Dinwiddie scored before the 24-second shot clock expired, Jaden Hardy hit a tough shot inside the paint and Irving drove down the court for an uncontested basket to give the Mavs a 129-119 lead with 49.4 seconds left.

Aside from Irving, the Mavs got a season-high 23 points and three steals from Hardy and 22 points each from Naji Marshall and Dinwiddie. Washington also finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and Daneil Gafford added 10 points, nine rebounds and two blocks.

Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 28 points and 11 rebounds, Trae Young finished with 18 Bogdanovic, who collected 18 points. The Hawks also got 17 points from Dyson Daniels and 12 points from Clint Capela.

It’s the first game since Jan. 29 last season against Orlando that the Mavs had four players score at least 20 points in the same game.

Luka Doncic (right wrist sprain), Klay Thompson (left plantar fasciitis) and Quentin Grimes (illness) all sat out Monday’s game. Dereck Lively II also missed the second half with an illness.

X: @DwainPrice