Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving returned to the NBA hardwood after nearly 600 days on Sunday night, scoring 17 points in a 132-115 preseason victory over the Houston Rockets in Macao, China. Playing in his first game action since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on March 3, 2025, Irving led all scorers for Dallas while logging just under 22 minutes of floor time.
Irving wasted no time making an impact after the Mavericks won the opening tip. Reigning rookie of the year Cooper Flagg found Irving on the right wing for the game’s first possession, where Irving attacked the baseline and converted a reverse layup to set the tone for the evening. The basket immediately drew a celebration from the Mavericks bench and cheers from the crowd in Macao, where the Rockets maintain a massive following stemming from historical franchise star and Basketball Hall of Famer Yao Ming.
How Irving Orchestrated His Return on the Floor
Irving finished the night shooting 6 of 13 from the field, adding three assists and two rebounds in his limited minutes. His prolonged absence spanned little more than 20 months, wiping out his entire 2024-25 campaign after he suffered the knee injury late in the season. Prior to the injury, the nine-time All-Star was averaging 24.7 points per game for Dallas.
“Fue simplemente impresionante,” manifestó a los reporteros el entrenador de Dallas, Dusty May, en una conferencia de prensa posterior al partido, describing the performance as simply breathtaking. “Su condición física, su condición mental, y luego — lo he dicho desde la primera vez que lo vi en un entrenamiento — es un artista. Es un músico de jazz… No esperaba que jugara así de bien después de estar tanto tiempo fuera.”
Irving expressed gratitude for the play design and the reception from his teammates following the victory. “Agradecido de que Dusty cantara la primera jugada para mí. Ya tenía la mente decidida: simplemente atacar,” Irving told reporters. “Me imaginaba cómo iba a salir, soñaba con cómo iba a salir y me alegra haberme quitado eso de encima. Estoy increíblemente agradecido también con mis compañeros y su apoyo, y verlos levantarse de la banca para celebrarme, eso siempre se siente bien. Y Dios es verdaderamente el más grande. Así que poder rendir a un alto nivel, eso se sintió increíble.”
What the Comeback Means for the Mavericks Backcourt
The return of Irving provides an immediate offensive injection for a Dallas franchise that reached the NBA Finals in 2024 but missed the postseason in each of the subsequent two years. Integrating Irving back into the lineup alongside Cooper Flagg and the rest of the roster shapes the outlook for the upcoming season, particularly as the team looks to re-establish itself among Western Conference contenders.
With Irving successfully clearing his first major competitive test since March 2025, the Mavericks will continue evaluating his conditioning and workload as the preseason schedule progresses toward the regular-season opener.
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