Mavericks get bad Kyrie Irving injury news

Mar 5, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving (2) in action during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Mavericks are already without one superstar guard, and now they are set to be without the other.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported Monday that Mavs guard Kyrie Irving has been diagnosed with a bulging disc in his back and will miss at least the next one-to-two weeks as a result. Charania adds that Dallas is optimistic that treatment over the coming days will provide a specific target return date for Irving.

The eight-time All-Star Irving is averaging 24.3 points and 4.9 assists per game this season on a fantastic 49/44/90 shooting line. He has been relied upon more heavily by the Mavs in recent weeks after co-star Luka Doncic was lost due to a significant calf strain. But now Irving himself is set to potentially miss the next 5-10 games for Dallas as he battles an injury problem of his own.

The Mavs are sixth in the West right now at 20-15, but that provides little comfort since the Western Conference is so tightly compacted (with only 3.5 games separating Dallas from 11th where they would be out of even the play-in picture). Spencer Dinwiddie, Quentin Grimes, and Jaden Hardy will now be among those tasked with stepping up in the backcourt for the Mavs, who are now down both of their best players.