Kyrie Irving powers winning return for Mavericks — Southwest Division roundup

The Dallas Mavericks delivered the Southwest Division’s only win on Sunday, rolling past the Houston Rockets 132-115. Both clubs now sit at 1-1, while the Memphis Grizzlies remain on top of the division at 2-1.

Dallas Mavericks: Kyrie Irving makes impactful comeback

Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com, via Hoops Rumors, reports that Kyrie Irving wasted no time making his presence felt in his first game in more than 19 months. The nine-time All-Star, who missed all of last season with a torn left ACL, opened the night by finishing a reverse layup over Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. That early highlight set the tone for a successful return and helped push Dallas to its first win of the campaign.

Hoops Rumors also reminds that the Mavericks have recently been dealing with several health-related absences. Grant Afseth of DallasSportsJournal.com writes that big men Santi Aldama (right knee) and Dereck Lively II (right foot) are still recovering from their respective surgeries, while guard Marcus Sasser remains on the mend as well. Their progress will be key to Dallas’ frontcourt and backcourt depth as the team tries to build on its 1-1 start.

Houston Rockets: setback on the court, flexibility on the roster

By giving up 132 points in Dallas, the Rockets dropped to 1-1 and missed a chance to grab early control of the division. Off the floor, Hoops Rumors notes that Houston is among the teams that still have one open two-way contract slot with the regular season set to tip off on October 20. That extra spot could be used to bring in another rotation option or a developmental piece to round out the roster.

Grizzlies, Pelicans and Spurs: Memphis early leader, San Antonio still winless

The Memphis Grizzlies currently lead the Southwest at 2-1, ahead of the Mavericks, Rockets and New Orleans Pelicans, all at 1-1. The San Antonio Spurs sit at the bottom at 0-2 and are still searching for their first victory. None of those three clubs appeared in Sunday’s reported results, but the tight early standings hint at a competitive race taking shape across the Southwest Division.