Kyrie Irving made a triumphant return to the court after 587 days on Oct. 12, scoring a team-high 17 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 132-115 win over the Houston Rockets in an NBA preseason game at the Venetian Arena in Macau.A 2016 NBA champion and nine-time All-Star, Irving had not played since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in a game against the Sacramento Kings on March 4, 2025. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the 2024-25 season and the entire following season. Back in action Monday, he wasted little time making his presence felt, driving to the basket for Dallas’ first points. “I’m grateful that my teammates gave me the first opportunity on offense,” Irving said. “I’m happy I could make that first basket back a memorable one. I’ve dreamed about it countless times.”The Mavericks will seek their second NBA championship in the 2026-27 season, with Irving and 20-year-old forward Cooper Flagg, last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year, leading the way. Dallas finished 12th in the Western Conference last season despite Flagg’s strong individual performance. He averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game, but Irving’s absence deprived the team of one of its key players throughout the campaign.
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