kyrie irving
Kyrie Irving.
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  • Kyrie Irving went three-for-three from three-point range on Sunday in the final game of the regular season.
  • Irving secured a $131,250 bonus for averaging 2.8 threes made per game in the season.
  • In the process, Irving boosted his three-point average enough to join the NBA’s “50-40-90” club.
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Kyrie Irving made a trio of three-pointers on Sunday that proved highly lucrative for the Brooklyn Nets star.

Irving shot three-for-three from three-point range on Sunday in the final game of the regular season. As a result, he averaged 2.8 made three-pointers per game over the entire season, which earned him a $131,250 bonus, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.

Irving entered the night averaging 2.8 three-pointers per game. If Irving hadn’t attempted any threes (and thus not made any), his average would have fallen below 2.8 per game. Irving needed exactly three three-pointers to average 2.8 per game for the season.

Irving could have let that dictate his game. Some players have done that in the past – Sacramento Kings forward Moe Harkless, for example, did not attempt any three-pointers in the final game of the 2016-17 regular season to maintain his three-point percentage and secure a $500,000 bonus.

But if a high-usage player like Irving had turned down shots he normally attempts, it would have been noticeable and detrimental to the Brooklyn Nets offense.

So with money on the line, the stakes were raised for each of Irving's three-point attempts on Sunday. And he knocked down all of them.

By hitting all three of those attempts, Irving also raised his three-point shooting percentage to 40.2%, putting him in the NBA's elite "50-40-90" club - 50% shooting from the field, 40% shooting from three, 90% shooting from the free-throw line.

Irving became just one of nine players to ever accomplish the feat. His head coach, Steve Nash, did it four times, and his teammate Kevin Durant did it in the 2012-13 season.

The Nets announced during a break that Irving had reached the impressive statistical milestones. Perhaps no one was as excited as Durant.

Irving's teammate James Harden also posted a congratulations on Twitter.

Irving didn't speak to reporters after the game. Durant, however, said he thinks Irving will reach the milestone again.

"Phenomenal season from Ky," Durant said. "He's a guy who can get it from anywhere on the floor at any time at that size is remarkable. Point guards that get 50/40/90 is just so much more impressive to me. I'm very happy for Kyrie, and I'm sure this won't be his last time."

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