These clutch Kyrie Irving 3s were just what the Cavs needed

Kyrie Irving made sure the Cleveland Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons out of the NBA playoffs Sunday.

The Cavs point guard scored 31 points, but none were bigger than the 3-pointer he sunk to push the lead to four with just 42 seconds left.

One was a lot longer, and plenty timely, though.

With the seconds winding down in the third quarter, Irving nailed a shot from halfcourt to beat the buzzer and give the Cavs an 81-78 lead heading into the final quarter. It was the longest made shot of the NBA postseason so far. And with Golden State star Stephen Curry ailing, it might not be challenged.

"When Kyrie plays downhill, plays with confidence, he's almost impossible to stop," teammate Kevin Love said of Irving after the game.

He's clearly turned it up a notch in the playoffs, boosting his scoring average nearly eight points above his season average to 27.5.

But then his fellow "Big Three" members Love and LeBron James have held their own, too.

Love was huge in a Game 1 win. LeBron scored 27 (and the Cavs made a ridiculous 20 3-pointers) in Game 2. Then the three of them combined for 66 points to carry the load in Game 3.

After Game 4, the trio reflected on their growing pains and coming together in their second postseason together.

Now, the question is whether they can keep it up for the long grind of the playoffs and a potential showdown with one of the juggernauts out West.