Kyrie Irving: “I am still trying to emotionally recover”

The Dallas Mavericks star guard Kyrie Irving on the team’s final possession breaking down vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves:

“I am still trying to emotionally recover. It is still so raw. I would have at least liked to get a shot up. Obviously, with Luka taking it in the backcourt on that steal attempt, it messed up our spacing. We were going for a quick two. That was the plan. It didn’t end up going that way and I should have given Luka more spacing.

“I thought I had a shot attempt the second time he drove and kicked, and then I expected Theo to be in a spot. It was the end of the clock, adrenaline was running high, anything can happen. I have to get a shot up if anything, or allow Luka to have some space to get a shot – not turn the ball over in that situation. It’s on me to be smarter in those situations.

“If you look at the overall game, I’m just grateful we were in that position. We scored 39 in the 4th [and] that gave ourselves a chance. That’s all we can ask for at the end of the game. It’s about execution.”