Kyrie Irving delivers for Mavs fans amid tumultuous month - ESPN

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks desperately needed their leader to deliver.

Chaos swirled around the Mavs in the 12 days since general manager Nico Harrison's stunning decision to trade face of the franchise Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. All-Star Anthony Davis, the headliner of the return from L.A., and the Mavs' other top three big men are out for an extended period. Fans were outraged about losing Doncic, and several were ejected from Monday's overtime loss to the Sacramento Kings for fairly routine acts of protest. Coach Jason Kidd was so frustrated that he skipped his postgame media session, apologizing before Wednesday's game.

Kyrie Irving remained calm through it all. And he made sure the Mavericks and their fans had a feel-good moment, scoring 42 points and taking a critical charge in the final minute of a 111-107 win over the Golden State Warriors.

«That was special,» said Mavs guard Klay Thompson, who had 17 points against his former team. «That was incredible — 42 and the defensive stop of the night. Yeah, that was incredible. Needed it bad, especially when I didn't have my best shooting night. That's our point guard, man. That was ridiculous.»

The crowd at the American Airlines Center included thousands of Warriors fans, which is the norm in the Stephen Curry era, and hundreds of people wearing Doncic jerseys. But Wednesday's game wasn't marred by security activity in the stands like Monday, and there weren't any audible «Fire Nico!» chants.

Irving credited the crowd for giving the Mavs a spark. It was a necessary lift given that Dallas has so many injuries that 6-foot-7 Kessler Edwards, who is on a two-way contract, started at center.

«Anytime you're in a game like tonight and you're looking for that