Irving sparks Dallas in Macau triumph

Kyrie Irving wasted no time reminding Dallas Mavericks fans of his value. Making his first start in more than 19 months, the veteran guard made an immediate impact in Dallas’ 132-115 preseason victory over the Houston Rockets at Macau’s Venetian Arena.

Just seconds into the game, Irving beat Jabari Smith Jr. along the baseline and converted a smooth reverse layup, further strengthening belief that he has fully recovered from the ACL injury suffered in March 2025. His comeback offers fresh optimism for a Dallas team determined to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.

The Mavericks secured a split in their China tour by once again causing problems for Houston’s offense. Dallas forced repeated turnovers, pushed the pace in transition and turned defensive pressure into easy scoring opportunities.

Although the Rockets briefly regained the lead after halftime, Dallas responded decisively, taking control in the third quarter and never looking back. Improved perimeter shooting under new head coach Dusty May provided another positive sign before the regular-season opener.