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Four Day-To-Day Mavericks All Target The Same Return Date

Johnson, Lively, Aldama and Irving share an Oct. 9 target — the same day as the preseason opener.

2026-10-09Est. Returnfour players tagged day-to-day
2026-10-09Preseason Openervs Rockets, NBA TV
0-0Recordseason hasn't started
$197.9MPayrollover cap, under tax
By the Mavericks Nightly Desk · Monday, October 5

Dallas enters the week with four players tagged day-to-day — Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Santi Aldama and Morez Johnson Jr. — and every one of them carries the same Oct. 9 estimated return. That date also marks the preseason opener against Houston, the first test of how many of the four actually suit up before the regular-season opener at Houston on Oct. 21.

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Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

One return date, four names

Kyrie Irving (left knee), Dereck Lively II (right foot), Santi Aldama (undisclosed) and Morez Johnson Jr. (lower leg) are all day-to-day, and every one of them carries the same Oct. 9 estimated return. Camp has offered no update beyond that shared target. Dallas is still 0-0, with no games played and camp running toward that same Oct. 9 date.

A preseason stop in China

Mavs.com reported that Dallas's preseason slate includes a trip to China, adding international travel on top of four exhibition games against Houston, New Orleans and Atlanta.

The slate between now and Oct. 21

Dallas opens preseason Oct. 9 against Houston on NBA TV, plays the Rockets again Oct. 11, hosts New Orleans Oct. 14 and Atlanta Oct. 16. The regular season opens Oct. 21 at Houston, where the 0-0 record actually starts moving. The open question: how many of the day-to-day group are active when preseason tips off.

When do the Mavericks play their first preseason game?

Dallas opens preseason Oct. 9 against the Houston Rockets on NBA TV, the same day four injured players are targeting a return.

Who is injured on the Mavericks right now?

Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Santi Aldama and Morez Johnson Jr. are all listed day-to-day, each with an estimated return of Oct. 9.

By the Mavericks Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.

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