Duke in the NBA: Irving, Jones contribute to historic night for Cavaliers

Eight former Blue Devils are on teams in the second round of the playoffs—more than any other college program. The Blue Zone takes a look at how all the main contributors have fared during the past week of postseason action.

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers had an eight-day layoff following a first round sweep of the Detroit Pistons, but Irving picked up right where he left off with a dominant start to Cleveland’s second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks. The all-star point guard averaged 20.0 points in the first two games as the Cavaliers jumped out to a 2-0 series lead with two double-digit victories. Irving combined to shoot 7-of-10 from beyond the arc and dished out 14 assists across Games 1 and 2 to help keep his team unbeaten so far in the postseason.

Mason Plumlee, Portland Trail Blazers

Plumlee has continued to dominate the glass for the Trail Blazers, averaging 13.0 rebounds per game in his last four contests. The 6-foot-11 center has now reached double figures on the boards in seven straight games—more than doubling the previous longest streak of his career—and he chipped in 9.5 points per contest during the last two games of Portland’s first-round series to help clinch an upset of a depleted Los Angeles Clippers team in six games. But Plumlee has struggled offensively to start the second round, combining for just seven points on 2-of-13 shooting against the top-seeded Golden State Warriors as Portland dropped Games 1 and 2 for the second straight series.

Luol Deng, Miami Heat

In a road Game 6 against the Charlotte Hornets last Friday when a loss would have eliminated the Heat, Deng stepped up with a big game to save his team’s season, scoring 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting. The London native followed that up with a 15-point performance in a Game 7 rout to help the team move on to the second round. Deng is averaging 11.0 points per game in the second round as Miami split its first two games against the No. 2-seed Toronto Raptors in two overtime contests and has scored in double figures in all nine of the Heat’s playoff games.

Gerald Henderson and Anderson Varejao get in each other's face after collision pic.twitter.com/cpEFFUnsbb

— gifdsports (@gifdsports) May 1, 2016

A couple minutes later, Henderson was standing in front of the Warriors’ bench on offense and arguing with Varejao, causing both players to pick up their second technicals and receive automatic ejections.

Henderson had an effective week coming off the bench as C.J. McCollum’s backup at shooting guard, averaging 8.8 points per game on 50.0 percent shooting from the field.

Dahntay Jones, Cleveland Cavaliers

The little-used 12-year veteran helped the Cavaliers make history in a 123-98 Game 2 rout of the Hawks Wednesday, knocking down a corner triple with 2:21 remaining for Cleveland’s 24th made 3-pointer of the night—the most in a single game in NBA history. Cleveland finished the contest 25-of-45 from beyond the arc.

.@dahntay1 sinking his way into HISTORY. #ALLin216 https://t.co/JjdHqka0mc

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 5, 2016

Justise Winslow, Miami Heat

Winslow’s production dropped sharply during a busy week for the Heat, with the swingman averaging just 3.6 points per game and 18.6 minutes in five games since last Wednesday. The 6-foot-7 forward proved to be valuable for Miami on defense in its last two games against the Hornets and an overtime win in its series opener in Toronto Tuesday night.

Austin Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers

Rivers stepped into the starting point guard role and delivered one of the gutsiest individual performances of the playoffs after the Clippers lost star point guard Chris Paul to a broken hand with their series even at two games apiece. The Winter Park, Fla., native scored 13 points in a Game 5 loss and started again last Wednesday in Game 6, when an elbow from Portland forward Al-Farouq Aminu hit his left eye early in the first quarter. Rivers left the floor to receive 11 stitches, but returned to the game and finished with 21 points and eight assists with his eye heavily bandaged. Rivers could not carry his team to victory and force a deciding Game 7, as the Trail Blazers eliminated Los Angeles with a 106-103 win.

.@AustinRivers25 -> TOUGHNESS pic.twitter.com/gAADBoh9sM

— Duke Basketball (@dukeblueplanet) May 1, 2016

J.J. Redick, Los Angeles Clippers

Redick stepped up his scoring to average 17.0 points per contest in Games 5 and 6 after Paul and forward Blake Griffin both went down with injuries, but it was not enough to halt Portland’s momentum as the Trail Blazers stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to win the last four games of the series. Redick wrapped up one the best seasons of his 10-year career, averaging 16.3 points on a career high 47.5 percent shooting from long range in the regular season, but he cooled off in the playoffs, making just 35.7 percent of his 3-point attempts in six games. 

Shelden Williams, Brooklyn Nets

The Nets announced Thursday that the former All-American center at Duke is joining their staff as a pro scout. Williams last played in the NBA for the Nets in 2012 before wrapping up his playing days with three years overseas in France and China.