Kyrie Irving’s Potential Return Could Spark Mavericks in Nuggets Rematch: “His Presence, His Gravity”

The Dallas Mavericks are looking to regroup as they prepare for a rematch against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night at American Airlines Center. The Nuggets outscored the Mavericks 33-12 in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 112-101 defeat for Dallas after erasing a 19-point deficit.

Klay Thompson led the Mavericks with 25 points, hitting six three-pointers and surpassing 16,000 career points. However, Thompson’s scoring couldn’t compensate for Dallas’ struggles to close the game or the lack of bench production.

“To get outscored 33-12 in the fourth, that was tough to swallow,” Thompson said. “Luckily, we get another shot at them on Tuesday.”

After a disappointing fourth-quarter collapse in Sunday’s game, Dallas is eager to bounce back and correct the mistakes that cost them a chance to win. For the Mavericks, the focus is on maintaining consistency and finishing strong, especially as they face a Nuggets team led by three-time MVP Nikola Jokić.

The rematch also comes at a critical time for Dallas, as they navigate a challenging stretch of games without Luka Dončić and aim to avoid slipping in the Western Conference standings. Additional help is likely on the way.

Kyrie Irving’s Potential Return

After missing five games due to illness and a back sprain, Kyrie Irving’s status has improved significantly. Following a full practice on Monday, Irving has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s contest.

Kidd expressed optimism about Irving’s readiness, saying, “He did really well, looked good. He did the whole practice.”

Without Irving, the Mavericks have struggled to maintain consistent offensive production, particularly in late-game scenarios. His ability to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates has been sorely missed.

“The quarterback aspect, the leadership, his ability to score—just his presence, his gravity, a lot of times two on the ball while he has it,” Kidd said. “That’s what we miss when he’s out. Hopefully, we get that back soon.”

In previous instances this season when Dončić was unavailable, Irving stepped up as the team’s leader, guiding the Mavericks to a 7-3 record in those games. He averaged 25.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.8 rebounds during that stretch while balancing the team’s offensive responsibilities.

As Dončić continues to recover from a left calf strain, there is optimism that Irving can replicate this success and help steady the Mavericks during a challenging stretch of games.

Irving has been instrumental for Dallas this season, averaging 24.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.6 rebounds while shooting a career-best 44.1% from three-point range. In games without Dončić, Irving has guided the Mavericks to a 7-3 record, emphasizing his ability to lead the team effectively.

Learning from the Fourth Quarter and More

Sunday’s game was a tale of two performances for Dallas. After leading by as many as 19 points late in the third quarter and by 12 early in the fourth, the Mavericks unraveled under Denver’s pressure.

Meanwhile, Denver capitalized on the Mavericks’ rebounding woes, winning the battle on the glass 55-37, including a 15-8 advantage in offensive boards. The second-chance opportunities were instrumental in Denver’s comeback, as they outscored Dallas 27-8 in second-chance points overall.

“Physicality. We have to be a little bit more physical in the rebounding department,” Kidd said. “When the shot goes up, we can’t ball-watch; we have to hit someone. We watched a little bit too much in our last game when the shot went up, so we have to be more aggressive there.”

Lively echoed Kidd’s sentiment, emphasizing defensive cohesion.

“All of us have to move together. If one of us moves, we all move,” Lively said. “We can’t just have one guy react and not the rest. Being solid defensively and not allowing easy layups or open shots will be key.”

A lack of bench scoring was a problem as well. The Mavericks’ reserves combined for just 22 points, while Denver’s bench poured in 40. After scoring 25 points against the Portland Trail Blazers, Jaden Hardy managed only five points on 1 of 7 shooting. Olivier-Maxence Prosper went scoreless in limited action, missing his lone shot attempt. Quentin Grimes contributed three points on 1 of 4 shooting, while Maxi Kleber added six points—all from beyond the arc—but had minimal contributions elsewhere. Daniel Gafford also had a quiet outing, finishing with six points on 2 of 7 shooting and three rebounds.

Making matters worse, P.J. Washington scored only eight points while shooting 3 of 9 overall and missing each of his two attempts from beyond the arc. He previously was a player who had routinely stepped up in games without a star teammate. However, the rest of the starting lineup did step up and will be needed to do so again on Tuesday. Naji Marshall and Spencer Dinwiddie added 16 points, with Dinwiddie dishing out 10 assists. Dereck Lively II added 14 points, six rebounds, and eight assists.

The Mavericks hope to translate these lessons into a more complete performance in Tuesday’s rematch.

Adjustments Without Luka Dončić and Kyrie Irving

Dallas continues to navigate the absence of Dončić, who remains sidelined with a left calf strain. Kidd acknowledged the challenges but praised the team’s resilience.

“The group has done an incredible job with those two out,” Kidd said. “We’ve been playing through Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, and Spencer Dinwiddie, and they’ve stepped up in leadership roles. There’s also Q [Quentin Grimes] and Hardy, who have also stepped up. And so, I think the group has improved with those two out.”

Lively, in particular, has thrived as a playmaking hub, dishing out a season-high eight assists on Sunday. He’s embraced his role as a “point center” in the absence of Dallas’ primary playmakers.

“I’m just trying to help us win,” Lively said. “If I have to go out there, pass the ball, and get my teammates open, I’ll do it ten times for them. It’s a joy to see us string together possessions, great passing rotations, and finding the open man. The basketball gods reward us for playing great basketball.”

Kidd highlighted how players like Lively have stepped up to fill the void left by the team’s stars’ absence.

“You can see D-Live is comfortable in playmaking, so using him as the hub—I think the next step for him is being able to extend his range, shooting the jumper or the three,” Kidd said. “But he’s comfortable on the perimeter, can find the open guy. Also on the pick-and-roll, being able to catch and play-make or finish—he’s comfortable there, so we’re definitely going to use him as much as we can.”

While trying to execute offensively without Irving and Dončić, players like Grimes, Marshall, and Washington, among others, have filled different roles and have benefited from it. Whether it’s a different player working off the elbow in a Horns set or being the focus in a Zoom action, the Mavericks have options to deploy to mix it up offensively when their main threats are back.

“Yeah, I think Q is taking full advantage of the DHOs and playing off the dribble,” Kidd said. “And we need that, even when we get healthy—when Kyrie and Luka come back. We need those guys to continue playing the way they are.”

With the Mavericks’ emphasis on re-driving and kicking to create great shots instead of settling for a good look, Kidd wants the team to continue to hold that mindset when Irving, later Dončić, is back on the court alongside them. He referenced the best offenses in the league, leveraging that approach and achieving success.

“The game becomes easier if you maintain that concept: turn down a good shot to get a great one,” Kidd said. “You look in this league at Memphis, Oklahoma City, Boston—those teams will pass up that first three to get a better three or a better shot. If we can continue to do that, it puts us in that category.”

Challenges Against the Denver Nuggets

Containing Jokić remains a tall order for Dallas. He finished with 19 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists during Sunday’s matchup. Lively acknowledged the challenges of facing a versatile superstar like Jokić.

“He’s dangerous in any part of the floor,” Lively said. “Whether he has the ball or not, you have to think about what he’s doing and what he’s trying to set up on offense. Whether he’s scoring, passing, or setting up plays, you have to think about what he’s doing and find ways to take away his strengths.”

Lively also noted how facing Jokić back-to-back demands constant adjustments.

“It’s really hard. It’s going to cause us bigs to be smarter in all parts of the game, whether it’s foul trouble or finding ways to exploit his weaknesses,” Lively said. “His team sets him up to maximize his strengths, so we have to take those away.”

Denver also benefitted from the return of Aaron Gordon, who contributed 13 points and six rebounds in his first game back from a calf strain. Russell Westbrook’s 21-point, 10-rebound, and 7-assist performance added another layer of complexity for Dallas to address. Westbrook’s ability to push the pace stood out to Lively.

“His pace. He’s getting out in transition and to the rim,” Lively said of Westbrook. “That’s where he’s made his money. We have to understand his strengths and work to exploit his weaknesses. He’s a high-energy guy who thrives in those situations, so we have to be locked in defensively.”

The Dallas Mavericks’ Road Ahead

The Mavericks, currently 22-17 and fifth in the Western Conference, face a pivotal stretch. Following Tuesday’s game, they embark on a road-heavy schedule, including a back-to-back against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

Kidd emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum as Irving and, eventually, Dončić reintegrate into the lineup.

“Yeah, I think there’s always an adjustment when a key piece comes back. Sometimes, you relax; sometimes, you wait. But for us, it’s about continuing to push forward,” Kidd said. “Kai will join the party, and when Luka gets healthy, he’ll join. Those guys are special—they understand how to play at a high level. We have to keep pushing forward and maintain a high standard.”

Thompson also looked ahead with optimism, emphasizing the importance of learning from the team’s struggles as they build together.

“Sometimes these are the games you remember the most,” Thompson said. “When you’re down and out, and your team’s not at full strength, but you will enough energy and effort to pull through. This one stings because it was right in our grasp.”

To stay competitive in a tight Western Conference playoff race, the Mavericks must balance their recent growth with the future reintegration of their stars. Tip-off against the Nuggets is set for 8:30 p.m. CST, and Irving’s status will be closely monitored.