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, sidelined since Jan. 1 with a back injury, returned to action for Tuesday’s game against the Denver Nuggets.

Mavs injury update:

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

Luka Dončić (left calf strain) and Dante Exum (right wrist operation) are out.

— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 15, 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 this season, was sidelined last week with a lower back injury.

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

Unfortunately, Dallas center Dereck Lively II had to leave Tuesday’s game in the first quarter due to a sprained right ankle.

According to the team, Mavs center Dereck Lively II will be out for the remainder of the game with a sprained right ankle.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) January 15, 2025

Irving was ruled out due to illness in the Mavs’ loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 3rd. The team announced before the next game that he had a lower back lumbar sprain.

Mavs co-star Luka Doncic has been sidelined since straining his left calf in a Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is scheduled to be reevaluated in the last week of January.