CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Cavaliers are done with the NBA Finals — win or lose — Kyrie Irving said he might be able to appreciate what he did in Game 5.
Facing elimination on the road, Irving reached deep mentally and physically and scored a playoff career-high 41 points on 17-of-24 shooting, joining Wilt Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history to score 40 or more points and shoot at least 70% from the field.
In Cleveland’s 112-97 victory against Golden State on Monday, Irving and LeBron James also became the first teammates in NBA history to score at least 40 points in the same Finals game.
But there’s no time to bask in accomplishments. Game 6 and a chance to force a final game await the Cavs on Thursday (9 p.m. ET, ABC).
Irving said Game 6 is "the only thing that’s on our mind right now. We’re not satisfied. We understand the magnitude of what Game 6 means for us at home, and we know that it will be an incredible level that they’re going to play at, and we have to play at an even better level."
Play even better? Even Irving admitted, "Now, mind you, to repeat a performance like this would definitely be tough, but whatever it takes to win."
The Cavaliers can’t expect James and Irving to score 40 points each again. Maybe 30 apiece, and they need to find a third — and possibly fourth — player to give them more offense.
Hello, Kevin Love. One good game from Love could help the Cavs extend the series one more game. Understood, he sustained a concussion in Game 2, missed Game 3, came off the bench in Game 4 and returned to the starting lineup in Game 5.
He’s averaging 8.8 points, six rebounds and shooting just 37.1% from the field and 28.6% on three-pointers. He had two points and three rebounds on Monday. In general, the Cavs can’t win with that kind of production from their third — sometimes second — option.
Does J.R. Smith have one more game with five three-pointers?
Whatever Cavs coach Tyronn Lue’s gameplan is for Game 6, it starts with James and Irving. James is averaging 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists against the Warriors, and for the playoffs, he is averaging 25.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.3 assists and shooting 53% from the field.
Those overall playoff numbers put him on an exclusive list of players to average at least 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in the postseason. Only Oscar Robertson (twice), Larry Bird (twice) and James (four previous times) have done it.
GALLERY: BEST OF THE NBA FINALS
James likes to say he doesn’t take these moments for granted. He repeated it after Monday’s game. As Karl Malone once told USA TODAY Sports, "Enjoy LeBron James, because when he’s gone, you might not see something like that for 20, 30 years."
In Game 5, Lue put the ball in James’ hands more often and let him run the point.
"I finally did a great job of not turning the ball over and got to my spots, got my teammates involved," James said. "Just tried to put us in position to be successful. Coach wanted to make that adjustment, and I was able to take advantage of it when I had the ball in my hands."
James’ performance is one we’ve seen before. The breakout star is Irving, who is quieting doubters with his playoff performance. In just his second postseason appearance, Irving has dazzled.
He is an artist around the basket — especially using angles off the backboard — with an array of moves perfected by practicing the George Mikan layup drill over and over. With his ball-handling skills and footwork, he gets separation on his mid-range jump shot, and when he’s three-point shot is falling, he is difficult to defend.
Irving also had six assists, and when he’s a scorer and playmaker, the Cavs are even better.
This is something James saw coming. Earlier in the season during a road trip against the Washington Wizards, James said Irving, 24, can be more than just an All-Star. First-team All-NBA and MVP honors are possible if he continues to work. The talent is there.
Sitting next to Irving after Game 5, James said, "You’ve got a guy like this who is very special. It’s probably one of the greatest performances I’ve ever seen live."
Irving told USA TODAY Sports during the Eastern Conference finals that outsiders misconstrued what he wanted in a team environment. "I have no problem fitting in with other great players," he said.
This runs counter to what we thought would transpire, but at 28.2 points, 4.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game in the Finals, Irving has more than held his own against Golden State's Steph Curry.
Before James returned to Cleveland, the Cavs needed Irving to score. One-on-one isolation basketball was the norm because that’s what the Cavs needed to score points.
It took Irving time to adjust to a different role, and it took time for Irving and James to complement one another.
"I think that the trust factor was just a big thing," Irving said. "It’s just been continuous and been consistent as we’ve continued to grow together. Just finding where he likes the ball, where he wants the ball, how effective he is around the perimeter as well as in the post and just giving him space to work. But as well as finding areas where I can be effective."
Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt.
