Watch: Kyrie Irving's defense seals short-handed Mavericks' win

With the short-handed Dallas Mavericks leading by two points, Irving drew a charge on Jimmy Butler that stopped the Golden State Warriors' last shot at tying the game in a 111-107 victory.

Playing without all four of their centers, the Mavericks managed to block seven shots and force 15 turnovers with 6-foot-7 Olivier-Maxence Prosper and 6-foot-6 Naji Marshall manning the pivot. Irving got one of those steals, and turned Butler's game-tying drive into a game-sealing turnover.

Irving finished with 42 points, with 27 of them coming in the second half, and 14 in the final quarter. 

It was Golden State's first loss with Butler, and one where it didn't take advantage of all the missing Mavericks: New Maverick Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford were all out with injuries, and Dwight Powell hasn't played for four weeks. So, it was up to Irving to stop Butler on the final play.

The Mavericks also got 12 points, two steals and a block from little-used Brandon Williams, who made two three-pointers in his 17th game of the season. Kessler Edwards, averaging 9.2 minutes per game, played 33 minutes and blocked three shots. But it was Irving's scoring and energy that kept the Mavs offense afloat.

He kept the Mavs ahead of the Warriors, silenced the boos for one night and made Dallas fans put down their "Fire Nico" signs. Luka Doncic may be gone, and all the centers, too, but the Mavericks still have one All-Star and new signs of life.