Mavs vs. 76ers Preview: Can Kyrie Irving Return Lead Dallas Past Joel Embiid-less Sixers?
After dealing with a rash of bad injury luck, the Dallas Mavericks finally get a boost with the return of Kyrie Irving on Monday night when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Irving had missed six straight games due to a sprained right thumb. He was also out for 12 straight games earlier in the season due to a heel contusion. The Mavs guard has averaged 25.2 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game in the 27 games he has played in this season.
Irving's return also marks just the 23rd time he and Luka Doncic will play together this season. Dallas is 12-10 in games that duo has played in this season.
Kyrie Irving driving to the basket.
Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
While Dallas will be aided by the return of the eight-time All-Star, Philadelphia will be without its reigning MVP for a third straight game and the foreseeable future. Joel Embiid suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee on Jan. 30 against the Golden State Warriors and will reportedly be out for one to two months. The Sixers center has averaged 35.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 34 games this season.
With Embiid out, more pressure will be on 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, who has put together the best season of his career. He has averaged 26.2 points, 6.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds, all of which are career highs, this season.
Dallas has lost seven out of its last 10 games, and with the trade deadline looming on Thursday, how it performs against Philadelphia and the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow may impact how aggressive the team is in its push to add an impact player or two.
RECORDS: Mavs (26-23), 76ers (30-18)
WHEN/WHERE: Monday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. CT - Wells Fargo Center
ODDS: The Mavs are 1.5 point favorites.
INJURY REPORTS - Mavs: Dante Exum (right knee bursitis), Dereck Lively II (nasal fracture) and Greg Brown III (G League) are OUT.
76ers: Joel Embiid (torn meniscus), Nicholas Batum (hamstring), De'Anthony Melton (back) and Robert Covington (knee) are OUT. Tobias Harris (illness) is QUESTIONABLE.
FINAL WORD: "I'm frustrated but doing my best to get through," Irving said of dealing with injuries. "I've had a lot of support from my teammates and the coaching staff. Just the hardest thing is being injured in this league. Games come by every single day and it doesn't get easier as you get older. I'm grateful I can be active tonight and give it a go."
