Kyrie Irving scores 17 on injury return as Mavericks beat Rockets in Macau

Kyrie Irving returned to game action with 17 points as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Houston Rockets 132-115 in a preseason game in Macau on Sunday. According to The Guardian's report, the nine-time All-Star led Dallas in scoring in his first appearance since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on March 3, 2025. He had missed the entire following season.

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Irving finished with six successful field-goal attempts from 13, alongside three assists and two rebounds, in just under 22 minutes. His playing time was spread across the opening three quarters: eight minutes in the first, slightly more than eight in the second and the first five and a half minutes after halftime. He then sat out the rest of the game.

Dallas put the ball in his hands immediately. After the Mavericks won the opening tip, Cooper Flagg found Irving on the right wing, and the guard drove along the baseline to finish a reverse layup. The basket prompted celebrations from the Dallas bench and a loud response from the crowd. Irving said he appreciated coach Dusty May designing the opening play for him and had already decided to attack.

May praised Irving's physical and mental condition after the game, telling reporters that the performance had exceeded his expectations following such a lengthy absence. Irving described having imagined his return beforehand and expressed gratitude for his teammates' support. He also spoke about the satisfaction of being able to perform again and seeing the bench celebrate his first basket.

Before his injury, Irving was averaging 24.7 points for Dallas during the 2024-25 season, The Guardian reported. The Mavericks reached the NBA finals in 2024 but have missed the two subsequent postseasons. Houston guard Marcus Smart also welcomed Irving's return, saying that competing against top players mattered and that he was pleased to see him back on court after the injury.

Irving thanked supporters who had gathered outside the Mavericks' hotel and those who sent messages wishing him well on social media. A frequent visitor to China, he plans another trip in 2027 as part of his annual world tour. After Sunday's comeback, he said he was looking forward to returning home and continuing to build on what the team had learned together during the visit.