Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving Closes out Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been rolling at home this season. In fact, they were looking for their 15th straight home win as the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled into town.

The Cavaliers gave the Thunder a terrific game from the start, hitting seven of their first 12 attempts.

Both teams went back and forth heading into the fourth quarter. It was then that you felt the Thunder would pull away. After all, they have closers in their big three of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.

Cleveland only had a handful of veterans and rookie Kyrie Irving to depend on.

Irving would take the challenge.

Irving struggled offensively the entire game only to fight back in clutch time.

While Durant and Westbrook struggled down the stretch, Irving made two crucial layups in the final two minutes to seal a 96-90 victory over the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder.

The rookie point guard silenced the Thunder crowd and showed why the Cavs are elated about their future. Irving continues to solidify himself as rookie of the year, and is playing with a maturity not often seen in rookies.

Although Irving finished with only nine points, no baskets were more important than his two, clutch field goals with the game on the line.

The Cavs are hoping to use this as momentum to get back in the playoff race for the final seed in the Eastern Conference.

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