Kyrie Irving is finally back in the real thing, and the first stop is a demanding one.
Wednesday night in Houston will mark Irving’s first regular-season game in more than 19 months, with the Dallas Mavericks opening against the Rockets at 7:30 p.m. CT. For Irving, the matchup is more than just the start of a new season - it’s an early check on how his body responds after a long road back from the torn ACL in his left knee that ended his last regular-season appearance on March 3, 2025, against the Sacramento Kings.
He made it clear Monday that Houston is the kind of stage he wants for this return. Kevin Durant is now on the other side, and Irving said he looked up to players like him as big brothers.
“I'm really excited, looking forward to the opportunity to be in Houston, hear my name called out,” Irving said. “A good rivalry game.
And a good test for me. It'll be a good test, not only for the first game, but for the first 10 or 11.”
That first test comes against a Rockets team that won 52 games last season, finished fifth in the Western Conference and then dropped its first-round series in six games after Golden State beat them in seven the year before. Ime Udoka is in his fourth season coaching Houston.
Dallas, meanwhile, is coming off a 26-56 season.
Irving’s road back has been longer than the calendar suggests. He missed the entire 2025-26 season, and before the team’s trip to Macao this month, he said a Grade 2 calf strain in December pushed his rehab back roughly eight weeks. That setback factored into the decision to shut him down for the season after the All-Star break.
The Mavericks have already seen flashes of what his return can mean. They held him out of the preseason opener against Houston on Oct. 9, a 135-117 loss.
Then two days later in Macao, coach Dusty May drew up a play for Irving on the very first possession. Irving delivered 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting in 22 minutes, and Dallas beat the Rockets 132-115.
That same game also gave fans their first look at Irving sharing the floor with Cooper Flagg, the reigning Rookie of the Year. Early in the second quarter, Flagg zipped a full-court pass to Irving for a transition layup.
Irving did not play in the 101-97 home loss to New Orleans on Oct. 14, but he did return Friday at American Airlines Center. In that game, he scored 18 points, added five assists and went 5-of-7 from 3-point range in 25 minutes during Dallas’ 135-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. The Mavericks finished the preseason 1-3.
For now, Irving says the plan is simple: keep it measured and keep it honest.
“Day by day and game by game,” Irving said. “I'm hyper-sensitive about my health.
I want to be 100% when I go out there. I'm going to take it into account that I am coming off a long layoff, but also I've put a lot of great work in and the preseason has gone well.
There hasn't been any restrictions. Just take it game by game.”
Before the injury, Irving was producing at a high level. He averaged 24.7 points in 50 games in 2024-25, and in the 10 games between the Luka Dončić trade and the ACL tear, he put up 28.1 points and 4.1 assists in 39.3 minutes per game.
He turns 35 in March and is entering his 16th season. Wednesday is the start of that next chapter - and Houston is where he’ll find out how it feels.
In Other News...
Dwight Powells Mavericks Run Is Over And Fans Want Answers
Dwight Powells long Mavericks run has come to an end, and for a player who spent years as one of the more familiar faces on the roster, the timing made the news land with a little extra weight. Dallas waived Powell along with guards Seth Lundy and John Poulakidas, closing the book on a tenure that saw Powell become one of the franchises steadiest presences and a part of multiple playoff pushes.
Dusty May praised Powells professionalism and the way he contributed to the team, which only sharpened the sense that this was a meaningful move rather than a routine roster shuffle. Powell ranks fifth in team history in games played, so any exit like this naturally invites questions about what comes next for the frontcourt and how the Mavericks are shaping their depth chart as they keep moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Make A Surprising Guard Move Right Before Opening Night
Just before opening night, the Mavericks added another young guard to a roster that is still taking shape around rookie Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving. Walter Clayton Jr., a former first-round NBA draft pick and the 2025-26 NCAA mens basketball national champion, is heading to Dallas on a two-way deal after his time with the Memphis Grizzlies ended.
The fit also comes with a familiar face. Clayton is reuniting with coach Dusty May, who once recruited him in college, giving the Mavericks a connection point as they keep sorting out the back end of a rebuilding roster. For a team looking for upside and flexibility, Clayton arrives with a fresh opportunity and a chance to make the most of a late move before the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Take A Needed Backcourt Flier Behind Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks added another name to the backcourt mix by bringing in Walter Clayton Jr. on a two-way deal, a move that gives them a little more insulation behind Kyrie Irving. Clayton arrives with a reputation for playmaking and enough promise from his college run to make him an intriguing depth piece, especially for a roster that can never really have too many ball-handlers when the games tighten up.
For Dallas, the appeal is in the possibility, not the certainty. Clayton is still in the early part of his pro career, but the Mavericks clearly see a chance to develop a guard who can handle some point-guard duties and give the team another option when Irving needs help or rest. To clear the way, the front office made a corresponding roster move, underscoring how small margins can be when a team is trying to shore up its bench. [Read more 🡒]