Jason Kidd said Kyrie Irving could potentially return on Friday after not playing on Wednesday against the Pelicans.

Dallas guard Kyrie Irving is expected to miss one to two weeks with a bulging disk in his back, and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said a timeline for his return was not immediately known.

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.

The Dallas Mavericks will be without star guard Kyrie Irving for the next few weeks. Irving suffered a bulging disc in his back and will miss at least one to two weeks. However, there is optimism that he will be able to return after undergoing treatment. NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN reported the news.

The trickle-down effect of Irving’s return changes the dynamic for Dallas’ backcourt play. Dinwiddie joined Irving in the backcourt and Naji Marshall returned to the bench. Jaden Hardy, who was in the midst of an offensive surge, was the first guard off the bench in Irving’s absence.

After the Dallas Mavericks' loss to the Denver Nuggets, Kyrie Irving addressed the media and shared his thoughts on teammate Luka Doncic.

The Mavericks have recently navigated life without Luka Doncic, who sustained a left calf strain on Christmas Day. With Irving and Doncic out on Friday, Quentin Grimes stepped up in a playmaking role with 26 points, six assists and two rebounds.

The Houston Rockets are 1.83 favorites on Bet365, while the Denver Nuggets are at 2.00 odds. The over 230 is at 1.762 on 1xbe, while the under is at 2.075 odds. The Denver Nuggets are 1.80 on the (+2.5) handicap on Betway, while the Rockets are at 1.99 to overcome the (-2.5) spread. Read more here.

Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving (11) is defended by Houston Rockets' Dillon Brooks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) If you need help with the Public File, call (954) 364-2526.

Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving (11) is defended by Houston Rockets' Dillon Brooks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J.

Grimes was chosen with the No. 25 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and had his rights traded on draft night to the New York Knicks, where he spent his first three seasons in the league. Last year, Grimes was dealt to the Detroit Pistons at the deadline, where he played just six games before an injury cut his season short.

The Dallas Mavericks look to be on the hunt for a perimeter defender that could help Luka Doncic's lackluster defense.