‘One Day At A Time’: Dusty May Explains Why Kyrie Irving Sits Second Night Of Dallas Mavericks’ Back-To-Back

DALLAS — Mavericks coach Dusty May said Saturday that Dallas did not decide in advance which night of its back-to-back Kyrie Irving would play. Irving played Friday at Indiana because he was ready to go, May said, and he will sit Saturday’s home opener against the San Antonio Spurs with left knee injury management.

In the Dallas Mavericks’ 121-105 win Friday, Irving scored 24 points in 24:55 on a minutes restriction. It was his second game since tearing his left ACL in March 2025.

Irving moved from questionable to doubtful on Saturday’s injury reports before Dallas ruled him out. Several conversations went into the plan, May said.

“It was more, he’s ready to play at Indiana. Let’s play that and let’s not make any decisions in advance. Let’s just take this one day at a time and plan accordingly,” May said. “But it was several conversations, and there wasn’t one thing that tilted it one way or the other.”

Playing in Indianapolis did not lock in Saturday’s plan either way, May said.

“No, the decision was made when he was ready to go in Indy on Friday. So he played Friday,” May explained. “If he was ready to go on Saturday, play Saturday.”

Kyrie Irving Could Play Both Ends Of A Back-To-Back This Season

Dallas has more back-to-backs on its schedule this season. May did not rule out Irving playing both nights of one.

“I don’t want to speak for Kai, but there’s certainly a chance, yes,” May said.

Before Friday’s game, May confirmed that Irving is on a minutes restriction. The staff staggers his minutes to avoid long stretches without him on the floor, May said.

“We spoke about it a couple times and obviously leaning on his feedback and what his expectations are certain parts of the game and being flexible and discussing [with] him how to get him in the best rhythm. But anytime you’re on a minute restriction, you can’t roll out your normal rotations and flow,” May said. “And so once again, it’s a collaborative effort between the staff [and] then also with the guys that are in with them. And then also how we stagger his minutes so we don’t have that long drought that we had.”

How The Mavericks Replace Irving Against San Antonio

Naji Marshall starts in Irving’s place alongside Max Christie in the backcourt. When Irving fouled out with 4:23 left Friday, Marshall and Marcus Sasser handled the point the rest of the way, and Irving said afterward that it was “a great lesson for all of us tonight, including myself, to trust the guys.”

Cooper Flagg is also out with a mild left shoulder sprain. Dallas plays at the Miami Heat on Monday.