Mavericks Overcome Adversity, Kyrie Irving’s Fourth-Quarter Heroics Fuel Victory Over Hawks

Kyrie Irving’s 16-point fourth quarter led the Mavericks to a 129-119 win over the Hawks, showcasing resilience despite injuries and illness.

Photo via Dallas Mavericks

ATLANTA — Grit, determination, and late-game brilliance propelled the Dallas Mavericks to a 129-119 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night at State Farm Arena. Playing without Luka Dončić (right wrist sprain), Klay Thompson (left foot plantar fascia), and Quentin Grimes (illness), and with Dereck Lively II sidelined in the second half due to illness, the Mavericks leaned on Kyrie Irving’s leadership and timely contributions from their supporting cast to secure a resilient win.

"This was just a gutsy win," Irving said. "We showed what we're made of tonight. Everyone stepped up, and we found a way to get it done despite the circumstances."

Irving, battling his own illness, delivered a masterclass in the fourth quarter, scoring 16 of his game-high 32 points to propel the Mavericks to their fifth win in six games. His late-game brilliance capped a 2-1 road trip for Dallas, now 10-8 on the season. He never considered sitting out, even though he could have.

"It didn’t cross my mind at all," Irving said. "I was just thinking about being there for my guys as much as they’re there for me."

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