After missing 11 games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, point guard Kyrie Irving led his squad with 28 points and 11 assists in a 100-94 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night.
The young guard was pleased to get a win in his return but that wasn't the highlight of his night. Irving who's had an epic and hilarious trash-talk exchange this summer with the Lakers Kobe Bryant during the Olympics says his "memorable moment" from the night was a block shot by Bryant.
Irving had the ball at the top of the key facing Bryant after calling for a clear-out, and with over 19,000 screaming fans in attendance; Irving took Bryant on in a one-one-one.
Irving tested Bryant with an array of cross over moves but in the end got his shot blocked, and Irving couldn't be any more appreciative.
"Me and my teammates were talking about it," said Irving "It just really reminded me of when Allen Iverson was playing against Michael Jordan. The whole crowd sat up. I got my shot blocked, but it was still a memorable moment for me, just seeing the crowd reaction. I was surprised myself."
C.J. Miles, who had a season-high 28 points, spoke on the play and knew he wanted to part of it.
"Everybody on the floor was just watching them play -- and nobody had any intention of getting the ball in that play," said Miles. "You knew he was going to shoot it, and you knew Kobe was going to do his best to stop it.
"Kind of like one of those things you're waiting for it to happen, you want that moment to happen. And it's just great to see some guys who compete so hard go against each other."
After the game a disappointed Bryant, who led the Lakers with a season-high 42 points, spoke on what it felt like defending Irving in that moment.
"When we were matched up at the top of the floor, yeah, I could feel the whole building kind of get behind that. Defensively I tried to take a stand. He's a fantastic, fantastic, fantastic player."
The Cavs held the Lakers to 41.3 percent shooting (31 of 75) and forced 19 turnovers. As a result, the Lakers lost their third straight game, their seventh in their last 10, to fall to 9-13.
Tuesday's victory snapped a five-game losing streak as the team improved to 5-17.
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