Irving entered the night just three points shy of the threshold with 17,997 career points. After a pair of free throws, he maneuvered into the paint and connected on a midrange jumper at the 7:17 mark of the first quarter. He finished with 38 points despite another loss for the injury-riddled Mavericks.

On Wednesday evening, the Dallas Mavericks played the Minneosta Timberwolves in Texas. The Mavs lost by a score of 115-114. Despite the loss, Kyrie Irving exploded for 36 points, four rebounds and nine assists while shooting 12/21 from the field and 4/11 from the three-point range in 38 minutes of playing time.

Without Luka Doncic, the Mavericks fought hard but ultimately fell short in a nail-biting 115-114 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jaden McDaniels scored a career-high 27 points, including the clinching free throw with 3 seconds to play, and Anthony Edwards added 21 as the Minnesota Timberwolves outlasted the short-handed Dallas Mavericks 115-114 on Wednesday night.