Friday 15 March 2019 07:55, UK
Kyrie Irving recorded the second triple-double of his career to lead the Boston Celtics to victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Irving starred as a scorer and distributor, torching Sacramento with 31 points (on 11-of-28 shooting) to lead the Celtics to a 126-120 win that maintained their pursuit of a top-four place in the Eastern Conference.
Irving opened his account in the opening minutes of the first quarter with a mid-range jump shot from the elbow over Buddy Hield.
In the second period, Hield was again the victim as Irving teased him with his dribble before blowing by him into the lane for a left-handed lay-up off the glass.
With 3:49 remaining in the half, Irving stole possession and dribbled the length of the court before Euro-stepping into the lane, spinning in mid-air and hitting his trailing team-mate Marcus Morris to ram home a two-handed dunk.
After trailing for much of the first three quarters, Sacramento reduced their deficit to a single point at 104-103 with 6:20 to go.
Irving countered immediately with a floater and, after a three-point play by Morris, added two jumpers in a 9-0 flurry that opened a 113-103 advantage from which the Kings could not recover.
Irving wound up with his second career triple-double, complementing his 31 points with 10 rebounds and a game-high 12 assists. His only previous triple-double came for Cleveland against Utah in February 2014.
Click the video at the top of the page to watch Kyrie's stellar all-round display.
