Cavaliers G Kyrie Irving could make season debut Friday or Saturday
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving could make his season debut Friday or Saturday, coach David Blatt said Thursday.
Irving has missed every game so far this season recovering from a fractured knee cap. Irving last played during Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Shooting guard Iman Shumpert could also return from a wrist injury, Blatt said.
Both Irving and Shumpert have now practiced fully three times. The two are expected to be part of Cleveland’s starting lineup when healthy.
Shumpert has played 38 regular games with the Cavaliers after arriving in a trade from the Knicks in January. He started 16 playoff games and shot 35.5% from three last season.
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Irving, drafted first overall in 2011, averaged 21.7 points and 5.2 assists in 75 games last season, the most games he’s played in one year. He was averaging 19 points per game during Cleveland’s Finals run before his knee injury.
