The Rockets have been getting solid point guard play this season, but Kyrie Irving showed them how much better it could be on Friday night. He finished with an electric 35 points and 9 assists while handing Houston its first loss of the NBA season.
Irving has been floated as a potential trade target for the Rockets in the past, but it was always unclear how much they valued him. His direct performance in head-to-head competition while being guarded by some elite defenders should put those concerns to rest. It’s clear that Kyrie is still one of the best point guards in the world and would do a lot to take pressure off Kevin Durant in Houston if the Rockets traded for him.
Irving was having a fairly lackluster start to the season – he averaged just 18 points per game in his first 5 games – but his performance against the Rockets showed what he can do in the highest pressure moments. Not only are the Rockets the toughest competition he’s faced this season, but it was also an NBA Cup game, adding more significance for both teams.
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