by MIAMI — Kyrie Irving returned to the Dallas Mavericks lineup Monday night and helped Dallas hand the Miami Heat their fourth straight loss to open the season, as the Mavericks closed out a 113-109 win at Kaseya Center.
Irving, back after sitting out Saturday’s loss to San Antonio for knee injury management, scored 18 points in 32:40, shooting 7-of-17 from the field and 2-of-10 from three-point range while going 2-of-2 at the free-throw line. He added six rebounds, six assists and two steals, with two turnovers.
Miami led 27-23 after the first quarter and stretched the lead to 43-32 in the second, but Dallas closed the half on a 15-4 run to take a 53-52 lead into the break. Irving scored 11 points in the first half, with Cooper Flagg adding 13 and P.J. Washington 12.
The Heat retook the lead in the third, outscoring Dallas 32-30 to carry an 84-83 edge into the fourth. Dallas answered by outscoring Miami 30-25 in the final quarter, with Flagg’s pull-up three off an Irving assist making it 111-105 with 2:02 left, and Flagg’s driving layup with 10 seconds remaining sealing the 113-109 final.
Flagg led Dallas with 29 points, six rebounds, 11 assists and four steals in his return from a left shoulder sprain, while Washington added 20 points and nine rebounds. Walter Clayton Jr. scored 15 off the bench on 6-of-7 shooting, and Max Christie added 11. Giannis Antetokounmpo led Miami with a 29-point, 15-rebound, 11-assist triple-double, and Davion Mitchell added 21 points.
The win moves Dallas to 2-2 on the season, while Miami falls to 0-4. The Mavericks return home to host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 8:30 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center.
