The 8 Best NBA Performances From Last Week: Chef Curry Cooks the Clips

4. Kyrie Irving vs. New Orleans Pelicans

Amid the Cleveland Cavaliers' recent struggles and LeBron James' roster concerns, Kyrie Irving has done nothing but ball out. After all, that's what he's been doing all year. Nonetheless, we're used to him showing out in Cleveland wins, not losses.

In a meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans Monday night, the Cavaliers were expected to roll. After all, New Orleans was without their superstar, Anthony Davis, and Cleveland was coming off a loss in their previous game. But, no one informed the Pelicans that that's how things were supposed to play out.

The Pelicans took the win, by a score of 124-122 as Terrence Jones burned the Cavs for 36 points, yet Irving one-upped him with 49 points in the loss. Obviously, Irving's big night was key to the Cavaliers' near come-from-behind win.

He had more points than minutes (41), hitting 15 of 28 from the floor, 8 of 14 from three, and 11 of 11 from the line, while adding 4 assists as well. And, even in a losing effort, Irving's 62.21 nERD was the highest of the game.