The Denver Nuggets defeated the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday and Tuesday, sweeping the two-game mini series with their Western Conference rivals. Denver has now w

The Dallas Mavericks are playing a second straight game against the Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night after falling 112-101 at home on Sunday. They could be getting a major boost to the lineup for this game, though, as Kyrie Irving is nearing a return.

Irving was absent for the most recent Mavericks game, also against the Nuggets, which the Denver side won 112-101. In that tie, he was hugely missed, with the output for his side clearly suffering from his absence: Dallas are 2-3 across their last five games in the NBA without Irving and 3-6 overall without him.

Kyrie Irving received his injury status for the Mavericks' game on Tuesday night against the Nuggets in Dallas.

If the Denver Nuggets want to make a trade before the Feb. 6 deadline, they need to make a bigger splash than this.

Joey Mistretta is a Dallas Mavericks beat reporter, Dallas Wings beat reporter and lead MLB editor for ClutchPoints. Mistretta graduated college with a degree in broadcast journalism from Biola University, and he has bylines at NBA Analysis Network and RotoWire.

That decision forced the Thunder to stick close to the Mavericks' role players throughout the first quarter. Once Washington scored the first five points, Irving asserted himself and drained a 3-pointer before finishing at the basket with a finger roll to give the Mavericks an early 10-0 lead.

Jamal Murray scored 32 of his season-high 45 points in the first half and led the Denver Nuggets to a 118-99 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

The Mavericks are set for the return of one-half of their dynamic backcourt duo. After missing Dallas’ last five games, Kyrie Irving is set to return to the lineup Tuesday night against the Denver Nuggets. Jason Kidd said pregame that Irving would return to the floor vs. Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.

The Dallas Mavericks are steadily heading towards getting healthy with each day, and Kyrie Irving's return could tip things off.

Kyrie Irving may have struggled in his return to the Mavericks lineup, but Jason Kidd is simply happy that he's back on the court.