Kyrie Irving Dealing with Knee Discomfort

Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving exited Friday night’s game right after halftime, due to discomfort in his left knee – the same one which required surgery less than two years ago.

“Just after halftime, my left knee just kind of started flaring up,” Irving said after the game.

According to Irving, the knee had been bothering him all day Thursday after the Cavs’ victory over the Boston Celtics.

“Yesterday was just a terrible day for me and my knee. I did everything possible just to recover and come in today.  It felt good. But then after halftime, sitting down for those 15 minutes and trying to get back going, I started feeling it.”

Irving was able to return and finish the game, but admitted the knee has been something he’s dealt with all season.

“It’s never easy, even the year after to realize that you have plates and screws in your knee and stuff like that,” Irving said.

“I don’t want it to feel sore, but it’s just the realization of it. I’m doing everything possible to take care of my body, but also I have to understand that sometimes it’s going to hurt and I just have to be able to deal with it. I’m just doing everything possible to prepare.”

When pressed to answer how severe the knee issue is bothering him, Irving downplayed the seriousness of the situation.

“It was just one of those days. Guys that have had knee surgery before understand that… I just did my best all day yesterday to do everything possible and I had a great chance to play at a high level today, but it just f******* flared up.”

We’ll see if Irving is available to play Sunday in Atlanta, but based on his comments along with Tyronn Lue’s post-game press conference, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he gets the game off.