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The Dallas Mavericks should be getting a key member of their starting lineup back from injury next week.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd told reporters Saturday that Irving will “hopefully” be available when the team’s three-game road trip starts on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon.
Irving has missed Dallas’ last six games with a sprained right thumb and has been in-and-out of the lineup this season due to injuries.
The 31-year-old missed a 12-game stretch from Dec. 11 to Dec. 30 with a right heel contusion and returned to play just 10 games before being ruled out with his current thumb sprain for a Jan. 24 matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
Irving has appeared in just 27 games for the Mavs this season, though he has been effective when healthy, averaging 25.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and 41.1 percent from deep.
Tim Hardaway Jr. and Jaden Hardy have seen more playing time in Irving’s absence, though neither is as effective as the eight-time All-Star.
The Mavericks acquired Irving during the 2022-23 season in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets and the two sides agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract in free agency ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Dallas will need Irving to stay healthy alongside Luka Dončić through the second half of the regular season if the team hopes to clinch a playoff berth. The Mavs entered Saturday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks eighth in the Western Conference with a 26-22 record.
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