Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving is set to return to the lineup after a 5-game absence due to a back injury

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have been without their All-Star backcourt for nearly all of 2025. On Tuesday, a member of the high-scoring duo will return to the lineup.

Kyrie Irving, who has been out since Jan. 1 with a back injury, is active for the team’s nationally televised game against the Denver Nuggets, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said.

Last week, Athletics reported that the Mavericks star was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his back.

Irving’s absence has forced the Mavericks to play their last five games without both of their star guards. Luka Dončić suffered a left calf strain in the Mavericks’ Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Mavericks have a 3-7 record since Dec. 25 and have dropped to fifth in the West, just one game out of the Play-In Tournament. Dallas lost to the Nuggets 112-101 on Sunday.

Kidd said Monday that Irving was able to go through a full workout.

“You look at the quarterback aspect,” Kidd said. “You look at the leadership. You look at his ability to score. Just his presence. His gravity. A lot of times he’s denied the ball while he has it. We definitely miss that and hopefully we’ll get it back soon.”

Irving hit a game-winning left-handed floater over Nikola Jokić the last time he faced the Nuggets at the American Airlines Center last March.

Irving is averaging 24.3 points per game this season. The Mavericks have a 19-11 record with him in the lineup.

(Top photo: C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)