Irving scores 17 in return as Mavericks split Macao games

Kyrie Irving scored 17 points in his first NBA game since his March 2025 knee injury, and Dallas beat Houston 132-115 on Sunday to split the two-game preseason series in Macao.

Irving played 22 minutes, made six of 13 shots and added three assists without a turnover. Dallas's leading scorer gave the Mavericks their first game look at him alongside Cooper Flagg, who spent his rookie season playing while Irving recovered from a torn ACL.

The Mavericks' official highlight package shows Irving's return against the Rockets.

Flagg finished with 14 points and seven assists, despite making three of 10 shots. Zaccharie Risacher added 16 points, while Sergio de Larrea contributed nine points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench. Dallas had several ways to keep possessions moving even when its young forward's shot was not falling.

Houston briefly pulled ahead during the third quarter, but the Mavericks entered the fourth with a 95-85 lead. Dallas scored 37 points in each of the last two quarters after taking a 58-51 advantage into halftime.

The Mavericks made 15 of 40 three-point attempts and converted 35 of 39 free throws. Marcus Smart led Houston with 20 points, including four three-pointers, and Reed Sheppard scored 17. Both teams finished the Macao trip with a 1-1 preseason record after the Rockets won Friday's opener 135-117.

The rematch came with several regulars absent. Austin Veazey's report for Mavericks On SI, carried by Yahoo Sports, noted that Houston sat Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams and Jae'Sean Tate. Dallas did not use Dereck Lively II, Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama or Marcus Sasser. That limits how much the final score says about the matchup once the regular season begins.

Dallas returns to its preseason schedule Wednesday against New Orleans at home. The Mavericks and Rockets are due to meet again in Houston for their regular-season opener on October 21.

Sources

ESPN: Dallas-Houston final and box score · Mavericks return-game report · NBA: China Games finale