Mavs' Kyrie Irving Out With Thumb Injury vs. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Suns

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving will miss Wednesday's matchup with the Phoenix Suns due to a thumb injury, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

Irving has been in-and-out of the lineup this season for the Mavericks due to right foot soreness.

The veteran point guard most recently suffered a recurrence of foot soreness when Dwight Powell fell on his foot during a win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 8. While there was initial concern he suffered a serious injury, the ailment was described as "just a bruise."

Nonetheless, he ultimately missed 12 straight games after being diagnosed with a right heel contusion.

Irving joined the Mavericks during the 2022-23 season in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. He averaged 27.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 20 games for Dallas last season while shooting 51.0 percent from the floor and 39.2 percent from deep.

Irving and the Mavericks agreed to a three-year, $120 million contract in free agency ahead of the 2023-24 campaign and he hasn't necessarily lived up to expectations to this point in the year due to the team he's missed.

When healthy, the 31-year-old is averaging 25.2 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 27 games while shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and 41.1 percent from beyond the arc.

The Mavericks sit third in the Western Conference with a 13-8 record and will need Irving to remain healthy alongside Luka Dončić if Dallas hopes to clinch a postseason berth after missing out on the playoffs last season.