Kyrie Irving returned to Cleveland on Saturday as the Cavaliers hosted the Dallas Mavericks. The Cavs were significantly shorthanded as they were without James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and the rest of their usual starting lineup for the visit of Irving and the Mavs.

Before the game, the Cavs crowd gave Irving a warm welcome as they showed their appreciation for his contributions to the franchise.

Kyrie Irving receives a warm welcome as he returns to Cleveland 🔥

He and the Cavs made history by winning the first NBA championship in franchise history 10 years ago!

(via @NBA)pic.twitter.com/ISszPryJ7Z https://t.co/Lt7VP0aZvu

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 15, 2026

Along with LeBron James, Irving was one of the key stars in the Cavs' championship-winning team back in 2016. He famously hit the game-winning shot in Game 7 as the Cavs overcame a 3-1 deficit to beat the Golden State Warriors in the Finals.

Irving came into the game averaging 21.6 points per game as he's formed a dynamic duo with Cooper Flagg. However, he had his worst outing of the season as he was limited to just 10 points in a shock 133-94 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. That loss snapped the Mavs' three-game win streak.

But Irving was bent on bouncing back against the Cavs. He put on an offensive masterclass in the third quarter, going off for 20 points in the period.

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But despite Irving's impressive offensive performance, the Mavs still found themselves in a deep 107-91 heading into the fourth quarter. The Cavs' makeshift starting lineup featuring Mario Hezonja, Thomas Bryant, Jaylon Tyson, Tyrese Proctor, and rookie Meleek Thomas has given Irving and co. plenty of problems as they've all scored in double digits. Proctor, in particular, has stolen the spotlight from Irving with a near triple-double of 24 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists midway through the fourth quarter.