SUMMARY
- Kyrie Irving made his return to the Dallas Mavericks after missing 12 games due to a heel contusion.
- The Mavericks faced offensive challenges in Irving's return game, scoring only 90 points against the Utah Jazz.
The Dallas Mavericks had a difficult start to 2024 after losing badly to the Utah Jazz 127-90 on January 1. In this game, Kyrie Irving made his return after missing 12 games due to a heel contusion. Luka Doncic, the Mavericks’ star guard, discussed the impact of Irving’s return on the team’s performance.
“I mean, great [to have him back],” Speaking about Irving’s return and the loss to the Jazz, Doncic said. “Obviously, we wanted to win, but the first game back is always tough. I think everybody relaxed a little bit because we had Kai on the court.”
Luka Doncic on having Kyrie Irving back: “I mean, great. Obviously, we wanted to win, but the first game back is always tough. I think everybody relaxed a little bit because we had Kai on the court. I’m very happy, and everybody’s happy that he’s back. Now we got a big home…
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) January 3, 2024
The Mavericks’ offense struggled in Irving’s return game, scoring only 90 points, which was their second-lowest total of the season. This was only the third time the Mavericks failed to hit triple digits in this season. Interestingly, Irving had played in two of the three games where Dallas failed to break the 100-point mark. The team’s disappointing performance against the Jazz raised questions about the timing and impact of Irving’s return.
Doncic and Irving’s pairing is important for the Mavericks, as seen by their absence in a previous 122-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on December 22. The team will now focus on making the most of their upcoming seven-game homestand to bounce back.
Kyrie Irving says his injury was a unique experience
Kyrie Irving’s recent return to the Dallas Mavericks has been a talking point in the NBA. Irving suffered the injury during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers in early December 2023, which was a huge setback for Irving. Reflecting on his experience, Irving described the injury and recovery process as unique and humbling.
“Just worked through the mental side of things being away from the game.” Irving stated. “This is my first in my career to have this type of injury. It was unique. I wasn’t sure how long I was gonna be out.”
Kyrie Irving says he’s never had an injury situation like this in his career. Used the word humbling. pic.twitter.com/8tLXT44Xyd
— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) January 2, 2024
The injury happened when Irving was attempting a layup and came down off balance. His teammate Dwight Powell, going for the rebound landed on Irving’s foot, resulting in a painful heel contusion. After the injury, Irving was taken out of the arena in a wheelchair.
As Irving comes back into the team, the Mavericks are hoping for better performances in the upcoming games. The Mavericks will look forward to using their potential and aim to improve their standing in the Western Conference.