Kyrie makes long-awaited return, dazzles in Mavs' China preseason game — SkimNews
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- Kyrie Irving scored 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench in his first game since March 3, 2025, when he tore the ACL in his left knee, helping the Mavericks beat the Rockets 132-115 in Macao's Venetian Arena.
- Head coach Dusty May called the opening possession for Irving, who drove past Jabari Smith Jr. for a reverse layup that ignited the Dallas bench and the sellout Chinese crowd.
- Irving revealed he sustained a Grade 2 calf strain in December that interrupted his rehabilitation and factored into the decision to rule him out for the season after the All-Star break.
- Reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg played alongside Irving for the first time, throwing a full-court pass to Irving for a transition layup early in the second quarter.
- Flagg later chased down Amen Thompson for a spectacular block in the third quarter, igniting a fast break that Irving finished with a pull-up 3-pointer.
- Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Irving "is back to being who he is" and "will only get better as he gets his rhythm back in real NBA games," while Irving sat out the preseason opener Friday as part of the Mavericks' plan to ease him back.
Why it matters: Irving's 17-point, 22-minute performance in his first game since tearing his ACL signals his rehab is on track, and his on-court chemistry with Cooper Flagg was immediate — Flagg's full-court pass and chase-down block both directly produced Irving baskets. For Dallas, pairing a healthy Irving with the reigning Rookie of the Year in their first outing together shapes the identity of this season's roster.
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