Kyrie Irving gave Dallas Mavericks fans a serious reason to scream just 10 seconds into his first start in over 19 months on Sunday morning against the Houston Rockets! Dude wasted absolutely no time, driving past Jabari Smith Jr. along the baseline for a beautiful reverse layup that nailed the game’s first bucket. Seriously, if you woke up for that game in Macao, China, pat yourself on the back, you absolute sicko, because Kyrie looked completely recovered from that torn ACL he suffered way back in March 2025. That comeback bucket immediately cranked up the preseason hopes for Dallas after what was a seriously lost year in 2025-26. The Mavericks went on to take the second of two games against Houston, winning 132-115, splitting that preseason series.
Kyrie’s Comeback Was Instant Fire
Let’s just be real, the Mavs looked good with Irving’s steady hand back at the helm. Really good at times. We’re trying not to overreact, but it’s tough when you see that kind of instant impact after so long. Head Coach Dusty May confirmed the hype, too, stating there would be “no limitations” on Kyrie’s return from injury. That first bucket wasn’t just a layup, it was his first NBA bucket in 586 days! You love to see it. Irving wasn’t just scoring either. His two free throws tied the game at 24-24 with just over a minute left in the first quarter, setting the stage for Max Christie to grab the Mavs their first lead a mere 20 seconds later.
Mavs Turned Up The Heat With Aggression
Dallas didn’t just rely on Kyrie’s return, though. They were hustling hard. The Mavs had already forced 21 Houston turnovers in their 135-117 loss on Friday in the same arena, and they kept that energy going, forcing seven more Rockets turnovers in just the first quarter on Sunday. That aggressive play led to easy looks and plenty of trips to the free-throw line, giving Dallas a real lift. The Mavericks made it a point to get out on the break through the entire first half, racking up 17 points off Houston’s first 11 turnovers in the first 17 minutes of the game. They took a 58-51 lead into halftime. Houston tried to claw back, battling all the way from being down 15 in the second quarter to actually taking the lead early in the third, but Dallas just pushed the pace right back and wrestled control away, taking a 95-85 lead into the fourth quarter. It was also cool to see the Mavs shoot 15-of-40 (37.5%) from three-point range in the win, especially after jacking up 51 of them in the first game. Having a roster of willing shooters under new head coach Dusty May is definitely a welcome sight heading into the 2026-27 season.
The Mavericks and Rockets aren’t done with each other yet, not by a long shot. They’re set to meet again on October 21st for the first game of the regular season for both teams, and this time, it’s going down at Houston’s Toyota Center. If this preseason peek is any indication, we’re in for a wild ride to kick off the NBA season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mavs Moneyball.
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