Kyrie Irving makes his return to NBA game action for the Dallas Mavericks after a long injury layoff, scoring 17 points in a 132-115 preseason win over the Houston Rockets in Macau, China. On Sunday night, Irving records a reverse layup on the opening possession, starting the game much the way he had when he last played.
The outlets report that Irving’s last appearance came after he tears his ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025, and that he has been sidelined for nearly 600 days. Coaches and coverage describe the performance as an encouraging sign following the injury. Dallas head coach Dusty May praises Irving’s display, with one account describing it as “vintage” and likening it to the work of an artist, while other reporting focuses on the basic matchup details and his team-high scoring output.
