Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving missed Wednesday’s 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets because of low back tightness.
Irving had played in four games since the Mavericks acquired him in a blockbuster trade from the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 28.3 points and 7.0 assists in 38.5 minutes. Dallas was 2-2 in those games, losing by single digits both times that All-Star starters Luka Doncic and Irving have played together.
The Mavericks struggled without him Wednesday. Jeff Green scored a season-high 24 points and Nikola Jokic had his 21st triple-double of the season as the Nuggets cruised into the All-Star break.
Irving, 30, first appeared on the injury report Wednesday morning, when he was listed as probable. He was downgraded to questionable a little more than three hours before tipoff.
This also was the Mavericks’ final game before the break. Irving has been selected to play in the All-Star Game for the eighth time.