"He wants that Chip bad": Kendrick Perkins leads applause of Kyrie Irving after Mavericks superstar runs riot in Game 3

Kendrick Perkins praised Kyrie Irving for his role in the Dallas Mavericks' Game 3 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals. Alongside his star teammate Luka Doncic, Irving played a crucial role in the Mavericks' offense as they secured a 3-0 series lead.

Kyrie Irving and Doncic scored 33 points each in Game 3. Doncic also contributed seven rebounds, five assists and five steals, while Irving added three rebounds and four assists.

Perkins commended Irving, his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, for the leadership he has displayed with the Mavericks.

“Kyrie has a personal handshake with the whole organization,” Perkins said. “His team, his leadership. He wants that Chip bad.”

Irving has developed a personal handshake with various members of the Mavericks organization beyond just his teammates. That was highlighted in a video clip shared by the team on social media after their Game 2 victory.

After Game 1, in an Inside the NBA appearance, Irving opened up about how he leads the Mavericks as a veteran.

“Every single day, I remind those guys what it's like to fail, what it's like to get to the mountaintop, be very close, and then fail. I use that as motivation and try to encourage my guys the best way I can," he said.

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Luka Doncic calls Kyrie Irving ‘Mr. 4th Quarter’

This season, it has been a common occurrence for Luka Doncic to be dominant in the first half of games for the Dallas Mavericks, with Kyrie Irving often taking over as the closer.

In the last two fourth quarters of the Western Conference finals, Kyrie Irving scored 14 points on 5-of-7 shooting with a plus-minus of +9 and 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting with a plus-minus of +8.

“That's why they call him, some people, Mr. 4th quarter, right? ... He's born for this situation. He (was) born for clutch situations. So we just give the ball to him," Doncic said after Game 3.

Outside of the Irving-Doncic tandem, several Mavericks players stepped up for the Game 3 win.

PJ Washington scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Derrick Jones Jr. had 11 points and three triples. Dereck Lively, despite getting injured, had a productive nine-minute run, making three of his field-goal attempts for six points and three rebounds. Daniel Gafford finished with just five points, three rebounds and two blocks but was instrumental in the win.

Dallas holds a significant advantage and can close out the series. With a win at home in the next game, they will advance to the finals.