As fans walked into American Airlines Center before the Houston Rockets faced the Dallas Mavericks, some in the lower bowl had a chance to receive a free Kyrie Irving peace sign.
Irving, who was playing in just his second home game since missing last season with a torn ACL, addressed the crowd with a pregame speech that was met with loud cheers.
The arena stayed loud when Irving hit a midrange jumper over 6-foot-11 Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. late in the fourth quarter. On a subsequent possession, Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg answered with an and-one floater over Smith.
Then Flagg delivered the dagger.
The rookie hit a midrange jumper over Rockets forward Tari Eason while falling to the floor, helping seal the Mavericks’ 116-111 victory against Houston on Friday night.
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