After nearly 20 months out with a torn ACL, Kyrie Irving scored on the first possession and led Dallas past Houston in Macau.
Kyrie Irving is back on an NBA floor, and he made sure everyone knew it right away. The Dallas Mavericks guard waited close to 600 days after his ACL tear, then scored a reverse layup on the game's opening possession in Macau on Sunday night.
The bucket set the tone for a team-high 17 points as Dallas beat the Houston Rockets 132-115 in a pre-season showcase. The result is secondary in an exhibition, but the sight of Irving moving freely and creating at will was the real story.
Irving's handle, footwork and finishing angles have long separated him from almost everyone else in the league. Seeing that bag of tricks intact after such a serious knee injury will encourage Mavericks fans, who have had a long wait for their nine-time All-Star.
Dusty May was full of praise afterwards, calling Irving an "artist" for the way he works. For a Dallas side with big plans this season, one strong night in Macau is a promising first step back for one of the league's most gifted guards.
