Kyrie Irving Returns After 586 Days, Scores 17 Points in Mavericks' Preseason Win Over Rockets in Macao

Kyrie Irving played for the first time since tearing his left ACL on March 3, 2025, scoring a team-high 17 points as Dallas beat Houston 132-115 in a preseason game in Macao, China.

Welcome back, Kyrie: Irving scores 17 for Mavs in China, his return game after 2025 knee injury — Yahoo Sports

Kyrie Irving's long wait ended on Sunday night in Macao, China, where the Dallas Mavericks guard played his first game in 586 days and scored a team-high 17 points in a 132-115 preseason win over the Houston Rockets. It was Irving's first game action since he tore the ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025.

Irving shot 6 of 13 from the field, including 2 of 6 from three-point range, and went 3 of 3 at the free-throw line. He added three assists and two rebounds in just under 22 minutes. The win evened the two-game series. Houston had won the first meeting 135-117.

A first possession built for him

Dallas won the opening tap, and the script was set from there. Reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg got the ball to Irving on the right wing, and Irving drove toward the baseline and finished with a reverse layup. It was the first score of the game for the Mavericks, and their bench immediately celebrated. The crowd also reacted loudly. Houston is one of the most popular NBA teams in China, largely because of Hall of Famer Yao Ming.

‘He’s an Artist,’ ‘Scary Hours’ — Dusty May, NBA World Hype Kyrie Irving’s 17-Point Performance in Return From 586-Day Injury Absence — Yahoo Sports

Irving said the play was by design. "Grateful that Dusty called the first play for me," he said. "Had my mind made up, just to attack." He added that he had imagined how the moment would unfold and was "just glad that I got that out the way."

That first-possession approach is worth noting. After a long layoff, attacking the rim on the first touch tests the repaired knee in the way Irving's game demands, and it worked.

May: 'I didn't expect him to play this well'

Dallas coach Dusty May was effusive afterward. "It was just impressive," he told reporters. "His physical condition, his mental condition, and then — I've said it from the first time I watched him in a workout — he's an artist. He's a jazz musician." May then offered a candid assessment: "I didn't expect him to play this well after being off so long."

May also said a couple of Irving's shots that looked good were off by a centimeter, and that they would drop once Irving gets into game rhythm. That is the coach's view, not a statistical finding. Still, a 6-of-13 night in a first game back, with the three-point shooting at 2 of 6, is a reasonable starting point rather than a cause for concern.

The road back

Irving missed all of last season. His absence stretched more than 19 months in total, and a calf strain during rehabilitation delayed his progress by roughly eight weeks. That setback matters when judging Sunday's performance. His return was not a straight line from surgery to the court, and the preseason game in Macao was his first live test against another team after that delay.

Irving also spoke about the emotional side. "A lot of emotions leading into it," he said. He thanked his teammates for rising off the bench to celebrate him and said that performing at a high level "felt amazing."

The Flagg pairing

The most interesting season-long question for Dallas is how Irving fits with Flagg. The rookie's pass on the opening play was a small but pointed example of the two connecting. Their pairing is a central storyline for the Mavericks, and Sunday offered an early look at the dynamic: Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year, setting up Irving, a veteran creator who has now shown he can still get to the basket.

One preseason game does not settle how the two will share the ball or how May will divide responsibilities between them. Sunday's box score does not break down their on-court partnership beyond that first possession. But the early evidence suggests May intends to build plays for Irving and use Flagg as a facilitator, at least in some sets.

What to watch next

Three questions will shape how this return is judged.

The first is workload. Irving played just under 22 minutes in his first game back. How May increases that load over the rest of the preseason, and whether Irving plays on consecutive nights, will show how confident the team is in his knee and his conditioning.

The second is efficiency. May's comments suggest he expects the shooting to improve with game rhythm. Whether it does will be easy to track over the coming exhibitions.

The third is the mental side of the comeback. Irving has described having his mind made up to attack, and the early success of that approach may give him confidence going forward. Whether it holds up against the physical demands of a full schedule is something only the season can answer.

For now, Dallas has what it wanted from the trip: a win, a healthy Irving and a clear sign that he can still be a primary scoring option. The Mavericks' season will depend on whether that holds once the games count.

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