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Kyrie hounded by Rockets in return, held in check in Mavs’ blowout loss

With the Rockets focused on trapping him, Kyrie Irving was held to 15 points in his first regular-season game since March 2025 and the Mavs fell 128-110.

ESPN

Published: Thursday, 22 October 2026 at 5:47 AM

Key Things to Know

Kyrie Irving was held to 15 points as the Houston Rockets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 128-110.
Houston built a 32-point halftime lead, marking the largest halftime deficit in an NBA coaching debut for Dusty May.
Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. led the Rockets with 30 points each.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Kyrie Irving scored 15 points in his return from a knee injury as the Dallas Mavericks fell 128-110 to the Houston Rockets in their season opener on Wednesday at the Toyota Center. The Rockets targeted Irving with double-teams, limiting him to four points in the first half while building a decisive 32-point halftime lead.

Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. led Houston with 30 points each, powering a dominant 38-12 second-quarter run. Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg scored a game-high 32 points in the defeat, which marked a challenging NBA debut for new Dallas head coach Dusty May.

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Kyrie hounded by Rockets in return, held in check in Mavs’ blowout loss

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