Report: Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving takes massive step to return from injury

The Dallas Mavericks started the season with an 8-2 record, but since are 8-9.

Dallas was playing at an extremely high level to start the season, but injuries to several of their key players have resulted in them slipping in the standings.

Every starter has missed at least one game this season, with Kyrie Irving missing the most games of the starting crew.

Report: Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving takes massive step to return from injury

Just as Irving was hitting strides and playing the best basketball of the season, Dwight Powell fell onto his leg and foot, causing him to re-injure his foot and suffer a heel contusion.

This has kept Irving out of the lineup for the last two weeks, but Irving's return could be happening sooner rather than later.

After receiving no injury updates over the last two weeks, Shams Charania reported that Irving has started the rehab process to return to action. Irving had been on crutches and then a walking boot, and now it seems that he is out of the boot and is working on his return.

Dallas needs Irving to return badly, as they have had to overly rely on Luka Doncic as of late. Doncic is averaging over 40 minutes per game in the month of December and will sit out Friday night's game against the Houston Rockets due to a quad strain.

Not having Irving to take some of the pressure off Doncic has been difficult, and hopefully, he and Dereck Lively II can return soon to form the potent trio that everyone has loved.

Defenses have to pick their poison when Lively II and Irving are on the floor with Doncic, and having these two players out has allowed opposing defenses to shift all their focus onto shutting down Doncic. Many teams are just having their best defender faceguard Doncic, and having Irving back will help balance Dallas' offense.

For all the latest on Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks this season, stay tuned.