Irving three-pointer helps Cavs pip Raptors in thriller

Seconds were left before Irving struck los angeles — Kyrie Irving is picking up right where he left off last season, displaying the same late-game composure that allows him to sink clutch baskets for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With the game tied 91-91, Irving showed off his steely nerve by draining a three pointer with 44 seconds left to lift the Cavaliers to a 94-91 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

Irving’s dagger came from the top of the key and it was none other than LeBron James who fed him the ball. “I tried to make a move for myself, get into the seams, but when I seen the defense collapse, I know where my guy was going to be,” James said.

“He’s a big-time player and it was a big-time moment and he knocked it down.”

Irving’s basket brought back memories of another game winner, in game seven of the 2016 NBA finals when he nailed a step-back three from the right side over Golden State star Stephen Curry. CHICAGO — Chicago guard Dwyane Wade apologised Friday for making a throat-slashing gesture after hitting a game-clinching basket, but that didn’t prevent the NBA from fining him $25,000.

Wade made the gesture after sinking a three-pointer with 26.3 seconds remaining in the Bulls’ season-opening win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday. “I wanna

James and Irving combined for 47 points as the Cavaliers squeezed past the Raptors in a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference finals. “He drove in the lane, got me a good look at the top of the key and I knocked it down. I work on that shot every single day,” said Irving.

Irving scored a team-high 26 points while James finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists as the Cavaliers took to the road for the first time, winning apologise to my young fans on my gesture at the end of last nights game,” Wade wrote on Twitter. “I was caught up in the emotions of my first game at home.”

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDe Weghe announcing that Wade “has been fined $25,000 for making an inappropriate gesture”. — in front of 19,800 at the Air Canada Centre arena.

The Cavaliers opened the season on an emotional night Tuesday with a 117-88 hammering of the New York Knicks. Before the game they received their 2016 NBA championship rings and raised the banner at Quicken Loans Arena.

Kevin Love chipped in with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavs who defeated the Raptors in six games to reach the 2016 NBA finals. The 24-year-old Irving dropped one of his five three-pointers helping the Cavaliers remain undefeated (2-0) to start the season.

DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with a game-high 32 points and seven rebounds while Kyle Lowry added 17 points and four assists as the Raptors lost for the first time this season.

In New Orleans, Kevin Durant scored 30 points and Klay Thompson had 28 as Golden State held off Anthony Davis and the Pelicans with a 122-114 victory.

The Pelicans fell to 0-2 despite another masterful performance by Davis. He finished with 45 points and 17 rebounds after accomplishing an league first with 50 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, four blocks and seven steals in a seasonopening 107-102 loss to Denver on Wednesday.

In Detroit, Tobias Harris haunted his former team by scoring 18 points as the Detroit Pistons cruised to a 108-92 win over the Orlando Magic. —