Kyrie Irving returns from 5-game absence; Dereck Lively II leaves with ankle injury

Star guard Kyrie Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 4.9 assists per game this season.

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Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who has been out since Jan. 1 with a back injury, returned to action for Tuesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

Mavs injury update:

Kyrie Irving (lower back sprain) will be AVAILABLE tonight against the Denver Nuggets.

Luka Dončić (left calf strain) and Dante Exum (right wrist surgery) will be OUT.

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) 15 January 2025

Irving finished with 11 points and four steals in Dallas’ 118-99 loss.

Irving, who is averaging 24.3 points and 4.9 assists per game. game this season, was sidelined for the past week with a lower back injury.

The Mavs went 2-3 during the five games Irving missed.

Unfortunately, Dallas lost center Dereck Lively II was forced to leave Tuesday’s game in the first quarter with a right ankle sprain.

Mavs center Dereck Lively II is out the rest of the game with a sprained right ankle per team.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) 15 January 2025

Irving was listed as out with an illness for the Mavs’ Jan. 3 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The team announced before the next game that he had a lumbar sprain in his lower back.

Mavs teammate Luka Doncic has been sidelined since straining his left calf during a Christmas loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is scheduled to be reassessed in the last week of January.