Mavericks reveal Kyrie Irving’s status© AFP via Getty Images
Kyrie Irving is set to play for the Dallas Mavericks against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. The team first listed the guard as questionable with left knee injury management, which left fans guessing for most of the day. Dallas then upgraded him to available. The decision comes two days after he logged heavy minutes in a win over Miami, and only a week into his return from a torn ACL. Dallas has handled the knee with extra care since opening night, so the final word drew plenty of attention. Tip-off is at 9:30 p.m. ET, and both rosters are thin.
Is Kyrie Irving Playing Against The Thunder On Wednesday?
Kyrie Irving was upgraded from questionable to available, so Dallas gets its point guard back for a game against a Thunder team missing several starters. The nine-time All-Star is averaging 19.0 points, 3.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals while shooting 51.2% from the field. On Monday in Miami, Irving finished with 18 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals in a 113-109 win. The questionable tag came from knee management, not a new injury. The difference is big for a player coming off a long layoff. Sitting him would not have shocked anyone. The opponent may also have played a part. Oklahoma City is known for physical defenders, and several of them are out this week.
Why Are The Mavericks Managing His Knee So Carefully?
The 34-year-old guard tore the ACL in the left knee against Sacramento on March 3, 2025. He missed nearly 19 months of regular-season action before coming back. He returned in the Oct. 21 opener at Houston, then scored 24 points in 25 minutes against Indiana two days later. Dallas sat him the next night against San Antonio, and the Spurs won 122-106. Rookie Sergio de Larrea led the Mavericks with 21 points in that game. Coach Dusty May explained the choice: “It was several conversations and there wasn’t one thing that tilted one way or another.” May has said the staff is judging Irving’s availability day by day instead of committing to him in consecutive games. Wednesday is not the second half of a back-to-back, yet the questionable tag still came first.
Who Else Is Out For Dallas And Oklahoma City?
No team has been hit harder by injuries early on than the Thunder. Chet Holmgren is out with right knee patellar tendinitis, Jalen Williams has a left ankle fracture, Alex Caruso has a right ankle sprain and Cason Wallace has a left shoulder labral tear. Williams went up for a layup late in a game, took contact and landed with the left foot under him. Ajay Mitchell, a key backup guard, is questionable with a right ankle sprain. Dallas has its own list. Dereck Lively II is out after foot surgery, and de Larrea is out with a right knee sprain. Santi Aldama and Tarik Biberovic are doubtful, while Naji Marshall (illness) and Caleb Martin (right thumb sprain) are questionable.
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