The Dallas Mavericks will be without superstar point guard Kyrie Irving for at least the next one to two weeks due to a bulging disc in his back.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania and Tim MacMahon, "there is optimism that treatment over the coming days will provide a return to play target date."
Irving, who has missed two of the team's last three games due to a shoulder injury and an illness, was ruled out of Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a lumbar sprain in his back.
Irving's injury is a huge blow to a Mavs squad that is already playing without their other superstar, Luka Doncic, for an extended period of time. Doncic was seen riding a scooter during Friday night's home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, a little more than a week after he suffered a strained left calf in the Christmas Day loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He is scheduled to be reevaluated at the end of January.
The good news for Dallas is that the team will get forward Naji Marshall back against Memphis after he completed his four-game suspension for his role in the scuffle with the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 27.
Irving is averaging 24.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 49% from the field and a career-best 44.1% from deep.