Following Tuesday's loss to the Denver Nuggets, Irving spoke in the Mavericks locker room about the injury and prognosis.

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, who has been sidelined since Jan. 1 with a back injury, returned to action in Tuesday’s home game against the Denver Nuggets. Irving finished with 11 points (on 4-for-18 shooting), four rebounds, two assists and four steals in Dallas’ 118-99 loss.

Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving has been ruled out of Wednesday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans, who are similarly resting power forward Zion Williamson.

But with six defeats in their last eight games, the Mavericks were losing buoyancy, so they were grateful for Tuesday night’s return of Kyrie Irving, even as they fell to Denver, 118-99, in American Airlines Center for the second time in three nights.

The Dallas Mavericks are set to play the New Orleans Pelicans on the road in the second of a back-to-back on Wednesday night. They were defeated 118-99 by the Denver Nuggets at home on Tuesday night.

Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving returned to the court on Tuesday after missing five games due to a bulging disc in his back.