Kyrie Irving Has Strong Return to Guide Mavericks’ Win Over Thunder: 'I Needed to Be Better, and I Was'

Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 25 points in a win over the Thunder, shaking off rust and focusing on staying healthy amid ongoing injury management.

Photo: Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS — Kyrie Irving finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists in his return from a one-game injury absence, leading the Dallas Mavericks (23-19) to a 106-98 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-7). The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Mavs as they try to stay afloat without Luka Dončić, who hasn’t played since Christmas Day due to a left calf strain.

Irving shook off the rust from his 11-point outing against the Denver Nuggets in a return from a five-game injury absence as he deals with a bulging disc. Against Denver, Irving shot just 4 of 18 (22.2%), with each of his three shots from deep not falling. He bounced back significantly against Oklahoma City, shooting 9 of 19 (47.4%) from the floor and 3 of 8 (37.5%) from the perimeter.

“He looked like he shook off the rust after that Denver game and found his rhythm and flow tonight,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said about Irving.

From Irving’s perspective, the most significant part of his performance was getting up and down the court without back pain. Irving has gone through lengthy workouts, including on Wednesday at Smoothie King Center, which has helped him have that “extra push” he relies on as a great player.

“My 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. “I had some good workouts over the last two days. It was really tough for me, even after the last game. That's all the same. Just regulate my emotions. I was just coming back and playing against Denver, and I didn't have that extra push in the reserve tank. I didn't have that extra energy, and that bothered me after the game, and I left there, kind of wondering just how I could be better for my teammates, be a better leader, and also take some pressure off myself.

“We're in a very peculiar time, a unique time in the season,” Irving added. “We've caught the injury bug very bad, and guys are going down left and right. So that adds to some of the stress levels, but it's also healthy to, again, just admit that you're going through it, talk to your support system, talk to your teammates, let them know you need help, and just focus on the game itself and playing the best you can.”

With Irving on the floor, the Mavericks had a dynamic talent that naturally commanded significant attention from the defense. Dallas improved to 8-4 in games. Irving plays without Dončic this season but is just 2-6 when neither plays. Kidd praised how Irving leveraged that defensive attention when playing off-ball to open up his teammates and consistently made the right pass when attacking the paint.

“He accepted the challenge of being denied and still got his teammates involved,” Kidd explained about Irving’s impact. “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.”

Coming off a dramatic 119-116 road loss against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday with a confirmed missed goaltending call in the final moments, the Mavericks put that disappointment behind them and bounced back with a victory.

“No, no chip. It’s an 82-game season, and there will be close games you win and lose. We learn from them all,” Kidd said. “Right now, we’re focused on development and putting the guys in positions to win. It’s about learning from both winning and losing, and this team has a lot of grit. Hopefully, we can get healthy at some point this season, but until then, it’s next man up.”

P.J. Washington provided support with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 16, too, while dropping five dimes. Naji Marshall’s 14 points and 10 rebounds marked his first double-double of the season. Dallas shot an efficient 16 of 41 (39%) from beyond the arc and held a 20-point advantage in fast-break scoring while outscoring Oklahoma City 36-22 in the paint.

Irving sat out on the second night of a back-to-back in New Orleans in the Mavs’ 119-116 loss against the Pelicans as he continues to manage a bulging disc injury. His presence was integral as the Mavericks continued to compete without Dončić and Danté Exum (right wrist surgery). During the game, Dallas lost both Jaden Hardy (right ankle sprain) and Dwight Powell (right hip injury).

“Just keep fighting. Next man up. Stick with it, play hard, and keep fighting,” Marshall said regarding overcoming injuries. “We’ve got a good team, very deep, so it’s always the next man up.”

Playing on the second night of a back-to-back after defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 134-114, the Thunder did not have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (right wrist soreness), Isaiah Hartenstein (left soleus strain), and Chet Holmgren (right iliac wing fracture). Oklahoma City deployed a small ball lineup with Jaylin Williams at the center spot, contributing 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Jalen Williams led the shorthanded Thunder with 19 points but shot 7 of 22 (31.8%) overall and 1 of 5 (20%) from beyond the arc, with six turnovers. Luguentz Dort added 18 points and five rebounds, while the whole starting group scored in double figures, including Aaron Wiggins’ 12 points and Cason Wallace’s 10 points.

Gilgeous-Alexander was a late scratch after going through a pre-game workout before being ruled out. It became a prime opportunity for the Mavericks to achieve a victory by taking care of business after losing eight of their last 10 games. Oklahoma was held to shooting just 38.5% overall despite making 20 shots from beyond the arc at a 43.5% clip. Dallas also scored a staggering 29 points off 15 Thunder turnovers.

With defensive execution helping to set the tone, the Mavericks improved to 9-0 when containing an opponent below 100 points. It marked a new season-low scoring total for the Thunder. Kidd appreciated the effort and energy from across the rotation while sticking to the game plan.

“The activity and execution of the game plan. We rebounded well, though we could’ve done better, and made sure the right guys were taking shots,” Kidd said. “Our energy and effort were high, which is what we needed after that New Orleans game. This team doesn’t dwell on losses. They move forward, and tonight, they put themselves in a position to win with great effort and focus.”

Mavericks Set the Tone Early