Kyrie Irving didn’t eat or drink anything Sunday. It didn’t stop him from hitting the game-winning shot.
KYRIE RVING LEFT-HANDED FLOATER FOR THE WIN
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 17, 2024
MAVERICKS WIN!pic.twitter.com/TXx7hhHzvu
Irving's left-handed floater at the buzzer gave his Mavericks a 107-105 win over the Nuggets and moved Dallas into a virtual tie for sixth place in the Western Conference. It also showed his toughness.
Since 2021, Irving has observed Ramadan by fasting from dusk to dawn for the month. That means no food and no water, an especially challenging proposition for a player like Irving who spent 40 minutes on the court. Irving called it "Nothing short of a miracle."
"To be able to play 48 minutes and do it without having a drink or any food in my stomach is nothing short of a miracle."
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) March 18, 2024
-- Kyrie Irving on playing in Ramadan pic.twitter.com/YEhcnf9noo
"Ramadan is a special month," Irving told reporters after the game. “You try not to focus on the suffering too much, and focus on the journey with God and the path that you're on."
He's been excellent while fasting in three games so far, averaging 27.7 points, 10.3 assists and 6.3 rebounds, while making over half of his shots.
Irving has rightly endured criticism for some of his beliefs, whether about vaccines or the alleged roundness of the earth. But now Irving is showing an admirable commitment to his religious faith. Fortunately for Dallas, even while fasting, Irving is still allowed to feast on NBA defenses.
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