Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving sits out Game 2, questionable for Game 3
The Cavaliers' Big Three was down to just one on Friday.
Point guard Kyrie Irving did not play in Game 2 against the Atlanta Hawks. Irving has been battling knee and foot injuries for several weeks and he reaggravated his knee in Wednesday's Game 1.
Irving missed shootaround and visited Dr. James Andrews of the Andrews Institute on Friday to determine the extent of the damage to his knee. Andrews confirmed Irving's diagnosis as tendinitis and devised a treatment plan, which called for Irving to sit out Game 2.
Despite the injuries, Irving's first postseason foray has been largely successful. He is averaging 18.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 36.3 minutes per game. He has been noticeably slowed by injury, but Irving managed to start all of the Cavaliers' playoff games to date.
Irving's injury pushes Matthew Dellavedova into the starting lineup. Dellavedova is a tenacious defender and emerged as the unlikely hero of the Cavaliers' closeout game against the Chicago Bulls, but he's nowhere close to Irving's level. Dellavedova has posted averages of 5.5 points and 2.7 assists in 18.8 minutes per game.
The Cavaliers have also listed Irving's status for Sunday's Game 3 as questionable. Cleveland is 1-6 without Irving this season.
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