Cavaliers PG Kyrie Irving undergoes kneecap surgery, out for Finals
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving underwent successful surgery on Saturday morning and is out for the rest of the NBA Finals with a fractured left kneecap, the team announced.
The team announced Irving would miss the rest of the playoffs on Friday. In a statement Saturday, the Cavaliers said Irving's recovery should take three to four months.
Irving had been hampered by knee and foot injuries throughout the playoffs but only missed two games this postseason. He played 43 minutes in Cleveland's 108–100 Game 1 overtime loss against the Golden State Warriors on Thursday and scored 23 points with seven rebounds and six assists before re-injuring the knee in overtime.
The two games Irving missed came during the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks, when he was diagnosed with left knee tendonitis by renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews.
• MORE NBA: Irving's injury deals Cavaliers' huge blow in NBA Finals
In an Instagram post made shortly after the news was announced, Irving said he will “be back soon.”
"I felt something different in my knee and I couldn't continue to play," Irving said after Game 1. "Obviously, you can tell by the tone in my voice, I'm a little worried."
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With Irving limited, second-year backup Matthew Dellavedova has seen increased action this postseason. He started the two games Irving missed and will likely be Cleveland's starting point guard for the rest of the series.
- Dan Gartland
