Kyrie Irving Details Managing Back Injury After Leading Mavericks Past Thunder: 'Getting Up and Down Without Worrying'
Kyrie Irving details managing a bulging disc injury, leading the Mavericks to a win over the Thunder with 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
DALLAS — Kyrie Irving’s resilience was displayed as he led the Dallas Mavericks (23-19) to a 106-98 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-7) on Friday. It was the latest step in Irving’s ongoing management of a bulging disc injury.
Returning after a one-game absence, Irving delivered an efficient 25-point, five-rebound, five-assist performance, snapping a three-game losing streak for Dallas. He shot 9 of 19 (47.4%) from the floor, including 3 of 8 (37.5%) from beyond the arc, while commanding defensive attention that opened opportunities for his teammates.
“He accepted the challenge of being denied and still got his teammates involved,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said about Irving after Friday’s game. “When the ball touched the paint, he made plays, whether it was finding open shooters or creating for others. His flow was really good tonight.”
The Mavericks are now navigating a challenging stretch without Luka Dončić (left calf strain) and other key contributors. Irving’s leadership and ability to manage his injury will be critical as Dallas works to maintain its playoff positioning.
Irving’s return to form was significant because he could play without pain. He emphasized “getting up and down the court without my back hurting or worrying” as an essential milestone in his recovery process.
“My main takeaway is just being able to get up and down the court without my back hurting or without having anything occur where I'm worried,” Irving said following the win over the Thunder. “I had some good workouts over the last two days. After the Denver game, I didn’t have that extra push in the reserve tank, and it bothered me. I left that game thinking about how I could be better for my teammates and take some pressure off myself.”
After Irving stated he would “most likely” play against the Pelicans, he explained the process of determining his availability—as with any player—involving the Mavericks’ training staff. Irving was initially listed as doubtful to play on the injury report ahead of Tuesday’s loss but still traveled with the team to New Orleans and went through a lengthy workout at Smoothie King Center. He focused on weight room work during the team, so he wasn’t seated on the bench.
"It was a combination of things. It was a collaborative decision with the staff, scaling back my competitiveness given the time of the season and circumstances,” Irving explained after Friday’s game. “I spoke from an emotional place [after the Denver game], but there’s protocol in the NBA. They had my best interests at heart. They told me to use the next two days to prepare for OKC, and I trusted them.”
Initial Thoughts After Tuesday’s Game
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