Kyrie Irving and LeBron James were so dominant last night that they accomplished a feat that hasn’t happened in 50 years.
Last night, as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks 135-130 and broke the NBA’s single-game three-point record with 25 treys, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were making a bit of history themselves. James and Irving are the first pair of teammates since 1966 to record at least 35 points and 8 assists in a game that ended in regulation.
Kyrie & LBJ become the 1st pair of teammates in @NBAHistory to record at least 35 PTS & 8 ASTS in a non-OT game since 1966. (via Elias) pic.twitter.com/rCpxpONPxE
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) March 4, 2017
James finished the contest with 38 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists. In scoring 38 points, James went 14-27 from the field, 6-10 from three-point range and 4-8 from the free-throw line. Highlights of his performance can be viewed below:
Irving finished the contest with 43 points, a team-high 9 assists and team-high 4 steals. In scoring 43 points, Irving went 14-21 from the field, 5-8 from three-point range and 10-10 from the free-throw line. Highlights of his performance can be viewed below:
The duo also holds the record for the most combined points in a NBA Finals game when facing elimination.
LeBron James and Kyrie Irving's combined 82 points were the most by 2 teammates when facing elimination in the NBA Finals (via @EliasSports)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 14, 2016
They accomplished that feat in Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals.
The scouting report on James and Irving is out already, so there’s no need to discuss what makes them so dangerous as scorers. James’ size, athleticism, bag of scoring tricks and basketball IQ are as unique as Irving’s ball-handling ability, finishing around the rim and shooting stroke are spectacular. Whereas with the Miami Heat, James and Dwyane Wade were a 1-2 punch with similar skillsets, James has a second-in-command who plays nothing like him on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
For a team to not be able to stop James or Irving one-on-one is damning and one of the reasons that James returned to the Cavaliers in 2010. Irving was already two-time All-Star at 21-years-old when James arrived. At 21-years-old, James was also a two-time All-Star.
Now, the duo are All-Stars on the same team. Irving is averaging 25.0 points, 5.9 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game this season. James is averaging 25.9 points, 8.9 assists and 8.1 rebounds per game. Irving shoots 47.1 percent from the field and 38.8 percent from three-point range. James shoots 53.9 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from three-point range.
Both are experiencing an evolution in their overall games. Irving is becoming a more determined facilitator and is also focusing on playing better on the defensive end. James, who barely has anything left to improve at this point in his career, is improving his ability as a long-distance shooter off-the-dribble.
Irving may be the most talented second-in-command James has ever had and that he’s only 24-years-old should strike fear into the hearts of teams that believe they can take down the Cavs in the future. Only adding to that fear should be that the 32-year-old James is still more athletic than the vast majority of players he plays against and, despite a career-average of 27.1 points per game, still improving as a scorer.
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Do you think that Kyrie Irving is the most talented second-in-command LeBron James has ever had? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section or Twitter @KJG_NBA.