Mavs Injury Update: Kyrie Irving Returns vs. Lakers; Full Details

LOS ANGELES — The Dallas Mavericks have been playing without their two leading scorers as of late, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. While Doncic has already been ruled out due to his left thigh strain, the Mavs have officially announced that Irving will make his return to action against the Lakers on Friday night.

Irving had been sidelined for each of the Mavs' three previous games. He last played on March 8 when he logged 41 minutes against the New Orleans Pelicans. It was the same game that Doncic was unable to finish as he was playing through his current quad injury.

After Wednesday's shootaround in San Antonio, Irving mentioned that he needed more time for his foot to recover. He described the injury as feeling as sensation in his foot similar to when knuckles crack after taking a wrong step during his performance against the Pelicans.

"It's right around my big toe, right around my plantar," Irving told ESPN. "I took a wrong step in New Orleans and it just felt like my knuckles cracked. I just wanted to take precautionary [measures] at this point in the season I make my whole entire living with my feet, so I'd rather take are of it now than when I'm 40 years old."

Irving was a full participant in Thursday's practice in Santa Monica and has been on the floor and in a practice jersey for each of the team's shootarounds since his injury, including Friday's shootaround before the team faces the Lakers. Obviously, Irving is finally feeling good enough to get back in action.

Kyrie Irving beats Theo Pinson (other side of court) in a spot shooting competition at Mavs shootaround. pic.twitter.com/JoFvtYpEfy
— Grant Afseth (@GrantAfseth) March 17, 2023

Irving has appeared in 11 games as a member of the Mavs since being traded midseason. He's averaged 27.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists, while producing .512/.414/.944 shooting splits. His tenure began by leading his new team to a win without Doncic in the lineup in Los Angeles against the Clippers.

With the Lakers' recent resurgence amid the Mavs' struggles to avoid close losses and injuries, the stakes for Friday's matchups are high in regards to the implications on the Western Conference standings. Dallas ranks eighth with a 35-35 record, while Los Angeles is ninth at 34-36.

Irving's return couldn't have come a better time.

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