Irving scores on the opening possession of his return
Kyrie Irving scored 17 points as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Houston Rockets 132–115 in Macau on October 11. It was his first game since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on March 3, 2025.
Irving made an immediate contribution, driving for a reverse layup on the opening possession after a pass from Cooper Flagg. He finished with six baskets from 13 attempts, three assists and two rebounds in just under 22 minutes.
His playing time was spread across the first three quarters. Dallas then completed the exhibition victory to split the two-game NBA China Games series after Houston had won the opener 135–117.
The return supplied Dallas with its first game evidence of Irving’s recovery after he missed the entire previous season. His minutes and participation were significant, but one preseason appearance does not establish his regular-season workload.
For the Mavericks, the trip therefore ended with both a win and the return of a major backcourt option as preparations for the new campaign continued.