Kyrie Irving Scores 17 in Mavericks Return in Macao

Kyrie Irving needed one possession. The Mavericks called his number on the opening play of his first game in nearly 600 days, he blew by Jabari Smith Jr. for a reverse layup, and he finished with a team-high 17 points as Dallas beat the Houston Rockets 132-115 in a preseason game in Macao, per ESPN.

This is the one Mavs fans have been waiting on. It was Irving's first game action since he tore the ACL in his left knee on March 3, 2025, and it was also his first game alongside reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg. If this is what rusty looks like, Dallas is going to be fine.

Kyrie Irving return: the box score

Irving went 6 of 13 from the field, 2 of 6 from three and 3 of 3 at the line in just under 22 minutes, with three assists and two rebounds, per Dallas Sports Journal. Fourteen of his points came in the first half, and he sat the entire fourth quarter with Dallas up 10.

He also revealed this week that he suffered a Grade 2 calf strain in December, which interrupted his rehab and played into the call to shut him down for all of last season, per ESPN. Dallas held him out of Friday's opener in Macao as part of the plan to ease him in.

"A lot of emotions leading into it," Irving said. "Grateful that Dusty called the first play for me. Had my mind made up just to attack."

Coach Dusty May admitted he did not see this coming so soon. "I didn't expect him to play this well after being off for so long, just the rhythm of the game," May said. "It's just a testament to his work."

First look at Kyrie and Cooper Flagg

The best part was the connection. Flagg threw a full-court pass to Irving for a transition layup early in the second quarter. Early in the third, Flagg chased down Amen Thompson for a block, and Irving finished the break with a pull-up three, per ESPN.

Flagg finished with 14 points, four rebounds and seven assists. Max Christie and Naji Marshall each added 14, and Zaccharie Risacher scored 16, nine of them in the fourth quarter, per Dallas Sports Journal. Dallas forced 22 turnovers and turned them into 32 points.

Rockets split the China trip

Houston won Friday's game 135-117 and played Sunday without Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams. Marcus Smart led the Rockets with 20 points on 7 of 13 shooting, including 4 of 9 from deep.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka, who coached Irving as a Nets assistant, liked what he saw. "He's back to being who he is," Udoka said. "He'll only get better as he gets his rhythm back in real NBA games."

It is preseason, so nobody is printing playoff tickets off one night in Macao. But Kyrie looked like Kyrie, Flagg looked like he loves having him, and if you are drafting this week, Irving's price just went up. Dallas finally has its backcourt closer back.