Kyrie Irving expected to return Sunday in Mavericks’ Macao preseason game

Kyrie Irving is expected to return to game action when the Dallas Mavericks face the Houston Rockets in Macao on Sunday, October 11. Mavericks coach Dusty May announced the plan before Friday’s preseason opener, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Sports Journal.

Irving has not played since tearing the ACL in his left knee against Sacramento on March 3, 2025. He sat out Friday’s first game at The Venetian Arena with left knee rest. The Sunday appearance remains a reported plan, not a completed return or a guarantee of minutes.

Dallas prepares for Irving’s first game back

May had previously said Irving would play in one of the two games in Macao, then identified Sunday as the planned return. Afseth reported that Irving had surgery on March 26, 2025 and was ruled out for the rest of the 2025-26 season in February to allow more recovery time.

May praised Irving’s work with Dallas’ younger players during camp. “He’s been unbelievable in practice as far as leadership and mentoring the younger players,” the coach told reporters, according to Afseth. “Just excited to see him back on the court again.”

Flagg looking forward to sharing the court

Cooper Flagg also said he expected to play Sunday, according to Afseth’s separate report. Flagg and Irving have yet to play together in a game, although they have worked together in training camp.

“Just sharing the court with someone like him and his gravity and the way he can manipulate the game is obviously going to make my life a lot easier,” Flagg said. He scored 19 points in the first half of Friday’s preseason opener, a 135-117 Dallas loss.

The second Macao game offers Dallas a preseason chance to work Irving back into game action. It should not be read as confirmation of his regular-season workload or an unrestricted minutes plan. Hoops Rumors also relayed Afseth’s report on the planned return.