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Cleveland Cavaliers: Best moments of 2017

By Tony Pesta

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with Dwyane Wade #9 in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cavaliers defeated the 76ers 113-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 27: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates with Dwyane Wade #9 in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cavaliers defeated the 76ers 113-91. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 25: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors guards Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on December 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 109-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 25: Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors guards Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena on December 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Warriors 109-108. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Kyrie Irving’s Playoff career high

It was game four of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Cleveland Cavaliers led the series 2-1, but the momentum was beginning to shift. The Boston Celtics were feeling good after stealing game three off of a buzzer-beating shot by Avery Bradley. Using that momentum, the Celtics jumped out to a 12 point lead in the third quarter of game four.

To make things worse, Kyrie Irving fell down near the end of the third quarter with an apparent ankle injury. The city of Cleveland watched as Irving writhed on the floor in pain, unclear whether or not Irving would be able to play anymore. If Irving was unable to continue, it was very likely that Boston would win this game and tie the series.Then, miraculously, Irving managed to get up and continue to play in the game.

Irving was feeding off the adrenaline from the crowd and began to heat up from the floor. Irving began dropping bucket after bucket, scoring on anyone the Celtics put in front of him. Each basket Irving made was pushing Cleveland back into the game and eventually into the lead. Irving put a punctuation mark on the quarter by drilling a step back three at the buzzer, giving him 21 points in the period. Irving finished the game with a playoff career-high 42 points.

This explosion from Irving came at the perfect time for the Cavaliers. The Cavs were dead in the water, with no one producing on offense. The Celtics were becoming serious threats to win the game and tie the series, which would send it back to their home floor in Boston. If it wasn’t for Irving’s heroics, the Cavaliers may have been in trouble. Luckily, Uncle Drew came to the rescue.