Dallas targets a China appearance for Irving
Kyrie Irving is expected to return in one of the Dallas Mavericks’ two preseason games against the Houston Rockets in China. Coach Dusty May has not selected the game or announced Irving’s minutes, according to Marc Stein’s reporting cited by Hoops Wire on October 8.
Irving has not played since tearing his ACL in March 2025. A calf strain later interrupted his recovery. His appearance remains planned rather than completed, with Dallas still to confirm the final arrangements.
The teams are scheduled to meet on October 9 and October 11 at The Venetian Arena in Macao. Both dates are also October 9 and October 11 for Philippine viewers. The games form part of the NBA China Games event series, which includes a fan day between the two exhibitions.
The venue’s event information lists Irving and Cooper Flagg among Dallas’ featured players, with Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün and Amen Thompson representing Houston. Promotional listings are not confirmed game lineups, so participation should be checked against each team’s updates.
The immediate focus for Dallas is whether Irving takes the court during the trip. A preseason appearance would begin his return to competition without, by itself, establishing his regular-season workload.