Follow-up: Irving off the injury report, set for first back-to-back since his return
DALLAS, Texas — The Dallas Mavericks, based in Dallas County, Texas, received encouraging news on Thursday: Kyrie Irving was not listed on the team's injury report for Friday's game at the Indiana Pacers, putting the nine-time All-Star in line for his first back-to-back since returning from a torn ACL, with the home opener against the San Antonio Spurs to follow on Saturday.
Irving returned to regular-season action Wednesday night in Houston, scoring 15 points in 24 minutes as the Mavericks lost 128-110 to the Rockets. It was his first regular-season appearance since March 3, 2025, when he tore the ACL in his left knee against the Sacramento Kings — an injury that cost him the rest of that season and the entire 2025-26 campaign. Dallas Morning News reporter Mike Curtis noted on social media that Irving's absence from the report was its biggest revelation, meaning he is set to play in his first back-to-back of the season.
Cooper Flagg scored a game-high 32 points in Wednesday's loss, but Dallas managed only 12 points in a disastrous second quarter that Houston won 38-12. Santi Aldama, Tarik Biberovic and Caleb Martin are ruled out for Friday, while Jett Howard is doubtful. Friday's game tips off at 7 p.m. ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 达拉斯美航中心资料照片。图片：Joe Mabel，CC BY-SA 3.0，经Wikimedia Commons。 / American Airlines Center in Dallas, file photo. Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
- 2026-10-22Mavericks Fall 128-110 to Rockets in Season Opener: Flagg's 32 Sets Teen Opener Record as Irving Returns With 15
- 2026-10-22Follow-up: Irving off the injury report, set for first back-to-back since his returnThis story
