DALLAS – After struggling Tuesday night in his return from missing five games, Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving confirmed he has been diagnosed with a bulging disc in his lower back and will continue to receive treatment for the injury.

While ESPN had reported the diagnosis, the Mavs had listed the injury as a lumbar sprain in Irving’s back.

“The last almost two weeks have been shit,” Irving said after scoring 11 points on 4 of 18 shooting in a 118-99 loss to the Denver Nuggets. “I have to be completely honest. I’ve never really had back problems. When I got the MRI back and found out it was a disc bulge, I talked to a few experts, a few doctors. I talked to some of my teammates and also some of our coaches who are dealing with surgeries or just theirs maintenance. It comes every now and then.

“I just have to be very smart, but I’m grateful that I had the chance to go out and play a few minutes. Tonight it really felt like I just jumped off the couch and decided I was going to play an NBA game tonight.”

Irving said he plans to play in the Mavs’ second road game Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Luka Doncic, Irving’s co-star, hasn’t played since suffering a Christmas strain in his left calf. Doncic is scheduled to be re-evaluated in the last week of January.

Dallas lost another starter in the first quarter of Tuesday’s loss when center Dereck Lively II sprained his right ankle. Minutes later he was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

Irving said he was able to relieve the pain caused by the bulging disc – including discomfort in his hamstring and leg – with medication. He described the pain as so unbearable that he could not meditate.

“It’s a bulging disc in your back, so you just have to do your best to deal with it,” Irving said. “It’s not so bad that I need surgery yet, which I’m grateful to God for, but I have the support of my medical staff. A few other people in this locker room are struggling with the same thing. So just be smart, that’s all.