DALLAS — Kyrie Irving did not play Wednesday night against the San Antonio Spurs.
And he’s not sure when he will be healthy enough to return to the Mavericks, either.
Hours before missing a third consecutive game with right foot soreness, Irving offered more details about the pain in his right big toe.
“It’s going to take a little bit more time than I thought,” Irving told reporters after the team’s pregame shootaround. “It’s obviously still day to day, but just got to take more time.”
Irving is set to be a free agent this summer, and referenced the importance of his health to his desire for a long-term contract.
“It’s right around my big toe, kind of around my plantar,” Irving said. “I took a wrong step in New Orleans and just felt like my knuckles cracked and just wanted to take precaution [at] this point in the season.
“I make my whole entire living with my feet, so I’d rather be taking care of it now than be dealing with it when I’m 40 years old.”
The Mavericks are winless in the first three games Irving has missed since his blockbuster trade arrival in early February.
Luka Doncic also did not play Wednesday in San Antonio, his third consecutive absence because of a left thigh strain.
Tim Hardaway Jr. (left calf contusion) and Marcus Morris (left knee soreness) were also absent, while Christian Wood returned after missing one game with right foot soreness.
“It’s frustrating for any of us that are on the sideline, especially this time in the season,” Irving said. “This is where you want to be playing your best basketball and with us being such a newly developed team at this point in the season, things have to happen a lot sooner, and we’d love to be out there, including myself, but just got to get our health right first and then try to make a push to the end of the season.”
