Kyrie Irving will not play in Dallas' preseason game against Houston on Friday, held out for rest. The 34-year-old guard sits out as the Mavericks close their preseason slate without him on the floor.
What happened
Irving was listed day-to-day on Friday's 8:19 a.m. ET injury report, with the issue logged as rest. The report states Irving will not play in Friday's preseason game against the Rockets, and no previous status is listed for this entry. Irving had been day-to-day with a left knee and leg issue dating back to Sep. 6, was cleared from that designation on Oct. 5, then was redesignated day-to-day the same day. The expected return listed on the report is Oct. 11.
What it means for the Mavericks
Dallas plays Houston on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on NBA TV, the team's preseason game before the 2026-27 regular season opens. Irving has not played a game yet this season, so his per-game line for the new year is not established. Without him on the floor, Dallas has leaned on Cooper Flagg (33.5 minutes, 21.0 points), Anthony Davis (31.3 minutes, 20.4 points), P.J. Washington (31.0 minutes, 14.2 points), Naji Marshall (29.5 minutes, 15.2 points) and Max Christie (29.1 minutes, 12.3 points). The Mavericks are 0-0 overall, since the 2026-27 season has not started, so there is no record split with or without Irving yet.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Irving's rest day is a one-game precaution or carries into further preseason action. His expected return is listed as Oct. 11. Dallas also has Dereck Lively II, P.J. Washington, Marcus Sasser, Caleb Martin and Santi Aldama listed day-to-day on the same report, so the preseason lineup could see more changes before the regular-season opener.
Is Kyrie Irving playing vs Rockets?
No. Irving is day-to-day with a rest issue, and the injury report states he will not play in Friday's preseason game against the Rockets.
When will Kyrie Irving be back?
The injury report lists his expected return as Oct. 11.