Dallas guard Kyrie Irving currently does not have a defined timeline for his return from a bulging disc in his back, with expectations set for him to be sidelined for one to two weeks. Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd confirmed that the specific details regarding Irving’s recovery remain unclear.
Before the Mavericks faced off against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night, Kidd refrained from providing additional insights into Irving’s condition or potential return date.
“He’s out, so there’s nothing I can speculate or comment (on),” Kidd stated. “It’s been reported he’s out a week or two.”
When pressed for a more precise recovery timeline for Irving, Kidd responded, “Give me 48 hours to get that answer.”
As the Mavericks’ second-leading scorer, averaging 24.3 points per game and boasting nearly 50% shooting from the field, including 44.1% from beyond the arc, Irving’s absence is a significant setback for the team.
The injury adds to the challenges facing the Dallas offense.
Luka Doncic, the team’s leading scorer who averages 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.8 assists, is also out for Monday’s game, marking his sixth consecutive absence due to a left calf strain.
With both Irving and Doncic unavailable, the Mavericks are missing a total of 52.4 points per game from their lineup.
“It’s important for everyone in uniform,” Kidd emphasized regarding the need to compensate for the scoring void. “Being short-handed, it’s the next-man-up mentality. … We can’t replace Luka or Ky, so it’s going to take a team effort.”
As the Mavericks enter Monday’s matchup with a record of 20-15, they find themselves in third place in the Southwest Division, trailing first-place Houston by three games.
