Kyrie Irving Eyes $1 Million Contract Incentive; Dallas Mavs Can Clinch Division With Win vs. Miami Heat

There’s plenty on the line individually for Kyrie Irving and as a team for the Dallas Mavericks when they play the Miami Heat on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. CT.

For Irving, playing against the Heat would mark his 58th game played this season. With 58 games played, Irving would earn a $1 million incentive. The Mavs guard had a heel contusion that kept him out 12 games in December after center Dwight Powell fell on him on Dec. 8, and he also had a sprained right thumb that led to a six-game absence.

Irving has played in 30 straight games, his most since 2016. The Mavs have gone 23-7 in that stretch, while Irving has averaged 26.1 points, 5.1 assists and 5.0 rebounds in his 30 consecutive games played.

With a win against the Heat, Dallas (49-30) can clinch the Southwest Division. It currently leads the New Orleans Pelicans (47-32) by two games with three left in the regular season. If the Mavs lose to Miami, they could still clinch the division if New Orleans loses to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday.

Dallas has won 15 of its last 17 games, and that run started with a 114-108 win over the Heat on March 7 at the American Airlines Center. For the Mavs, clinching the division with a win against the team they began their turnaround against would bring what started as an up-and-down regular season full circle and further help set them up for a potentially deep playoff run.