BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics drives against Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at TD Garden on November 30, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Kyrie Irving is gradually proving to be one of the Boston Celtics‘ most valuable new assets.
The point guard scored 36 points to propel Boston to a 108-97 home victory over the tired Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night.
The Celtics (19-4) hold the NBA’s best record.
Thursday’s matchup marked Irving’s fifth game this season with 30 or more points. Al Horford added 21 points and eight rebounds, and Marcus Morris had 17 points as Boston rebounded from Monday night’s home loss to Detroit.
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”It’s go time, man,” Irving said of his mindset in the fourth quarter. ”Especially when the game is in the balance. It’s the best time to play. It’s just ultimate freedom, just to really showcase what you’ve been working on because you know that you’re going to get the team’s best shot on the other end.”
Irving sits third in the NBA in fourth-quarter scoring at 7.1 points per game behind only former teammate LeBron James (9.3) and Kristaps Porzingis (7.3).
Dario Saric led the Sixers (12-9) with 18 points. JJ Redick added 17 and Ben Simmons finished with 15.
”Kyrie is obviously amazing,” Redick said. ”Horford doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is offensively. As good as Kyrie is, Horford is the hub of everything they do.”
Irving finished 12-of-21 shooting from the field, including 5 of 8 on 3-pointers. He would finish the night to MVP chants at the free throw line.
Philadelphia has lost two of three. The Sixers were missing center Joel Embiid, who continues to rest on the second night of back-to-backs. Given this, Celtics coach Brad Stevens went with a bigger lineup, starting Aron Baynes in place of Morris.
”We’re playing NBA royalty right now,” 76ers coach Brett Brown said. ”We’re playing against the league’s best. The analytics people tell us we’ve had the most difficult schedule to date in the NBA, and it feels like that. But I think it expedites learning. … You’re always learning from All-Stars.”
The Sixers begin a three-game home-stand Saturday against the Detroit Pistons. That same night, the Celtics will host the Phoenix Suns.
BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 30: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics drives against Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at TD Garden on November 30, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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