Kyrie Irving is on track to do something he hasn’t done since before the knee injury: play on consecutive nights.
After Dallas rolled past Brooklyn 130-93 on Sunday at American Airlines Center, Irving put himself in position to suit up Monday against the visiting Indiana Pacers. Per Marc Stein, this would be his first back-to-back since he tore his ACL in March of 2025.
The Mavericks got the kind of cushion that makes that possible. Irving scored 21 points in 29 minutes in the win over the Nets, and he is not listed on the injury report heading into the Pacers game. That’s a strong sign his body is handling the load better than expected.
So far this season, the 34-year-old guard has averaged 21.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 29.5 minutes per game. He’s shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from 3-point range.
Dallas has leaned on Irving and franchise building block Cooper Flagg while trying to move past the lingering effects of the Luka Doncic trade. The Mavericks are 6-4 and can pick up their second three-game winning streak of the season with a win over Indiana.
The Pacers had Sunday off, but they were traveling back from Mexico City, so both teams could be less than full strength when they meet Monday.
Irving’s return to a back-to-back is a notable step, especially this early in the season. Dallas spent a full season waiting for him to get back from the knee injury, and now the payoff is a healthy No. 11 for 2026. The Mavericks also have another name to watch in Morez Johnson Jr., though the top-10 draft pick is questionable against Indiana because of a shin contusion.
Dusty May would no doubt welcome the chance to ease Irving’s workload again. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Cooper Flaggs Breakout Has Mavericks Fans Eyeing A Bigger Test
The Mavericks took control early against the Nets and never really let the game drift, with Cooper Flagg doing the heavy lifting in a performance that gave Dallas plenty to feel good about. Flagg kept the offense organized and aggressive, and the win came with a smoother look than the team has often had when trying to settle into its rotation.
Brooklyn never found much rhythm, especially after Noah Clowney ran into foul trouble and was out of the game in under eight minutes. Dallas also eased Max Christie back in after his injury return, a reminder that the Mavericks are still sorting out their pieces even as the results start to tilt their way. The bigger question now is how Flagg's growing role translates when the opposition is a little less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Backcourt Problem Just Got Harder To Ignore
The Mavericks backcourt depth is getting tested in a way that makes every absence behind Kyrie Irving feel a little heavier. With backup point guard Sergio De Larrea out because of a right knee sprain, Dallas has had to lean more on its current reserve guards, and Walter Clayton Jr. has helped steady the rotation while the team tries to keep the position from becoming a nightly problem.
De Larrea has already missed six straight games, and the delay in his return only adds to the uncertainty around a group that was already thin. For a team trying to manage its guard minutes carefully, the longer this lingers the more the Mavericks have to rely on patchwork solutions, at least until there is clearer news on when he can get back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Guard Shakeup Is Creating An Early Rotation Battle
The Mavericks are still sorting out their backcourt mix after Max Christies recent shooting slump and the hip issue that has cut into his availability. In the meantime, Caleb Martin has slid into the starting shooting guard spot and given Dallas a steadier look on the wing, bringing defense and efficient shooting from deep while the coaching staff keeps testing different combinations early in the season.
Walter Clayton Jr. has also entered the conversation as a useful ball-moving option, giving the Mavericks another guard to consider as they evaluate roles and lineups. With Dusty May continuing to experiment, this has become more than a temporary patch job, it is an early rotation battle that could shape how the backcourt settles once the team gets deeper into the schedule. [Read more 🡒]