Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving (back) on the sideline vs. Pelicans
Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving has been ruled out for Wednesday night’s road game against the New Orleans Pelicans, though he had intended to play both games in a back-to-back after returning from a five-game absence due to a bulging disc in his loins.
“It’s a bulging disc in your back, so you just have to do your best to deal with it,” Irving said after Tuesday’s 118-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets, when he scored 11 points on 4-of-18 shooting. “It’s not to the point where it’s bad enough where I have to have surgery, which I thank God for, but I have the support of my doctor. A couple of other people in this locker room are dealing with the same thing. So just that be smart about it, that’s not being too careful.”
Dallas starting center Dereck Lively II was also ruled out against the Pelicans because of a sprained right ankle he suffered in the first quarter of Tuesday’s loss.
Luka Doncic, Irving’s teammate, has not played since straining his left calf on Christmas. Doncic is scheduled to be re-evaluated in the last week of January.
The Pelicans were also short with Zion Williamson (back to competitive rehab) sitting out the second night of a back-to-back. New Orleans was also without starters Brandon Ingram (ankle) and Herbert Jones (shoulder) due to injuries that have sidelined them for extended periods.