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.

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.

Kyrie Irving, returning after a one-game absence due to a back sprain, delivered a strong performance with 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists. The tension on the court was palpable, with