The Dallas Mavericks are optimistic about Kyrie Irving's return as he has been upgraded to questionable for the upcoming game against the Denver Nuggets. Irving, who has missed five consecutive games due to a lumbar back sprain, was initially expected to be sidelined for one to two weeks. His absence has been felt by the Mavericks, who have struggled to maintain their performance without his scoring and leadership. Coach Jason Kidd emphasized the void left by Irving, noting the impact of his presence on the court.

Despite Irving's injury troubles, he participated fully in practice on Monday, raising hopes for his imminent return. The Mavericks have managed a 2-3 record in the five games without him and a 3-6 overall this season when he does not play. Players like Spencer Dinwiddie and Jaden Hardy have stepped up, but the team is eager to reintegrate Irving and possibly Luka Doncic soon.