Kyrie Irving missed his second straight game because of hamstring problem against the Pelicans. The Cavaliers main point guard has missed one game on New Year’s eve against Charlotte Hornets. Coach Tyronn Lue was still unsure whether he would be able to play on Wednesday against the Bulls.
The decision to sideline Irving was mentioned by coach Lue during during the pregame media session on Monday Nov. 2, before Cleveland hosted the New Orleans Pelicans, as reported by ESPN. Coach Lue said that the 24-year old point guard has a tightness in his hamstring.
In his place, the Cavaliers put DeAndre Liggins and Jordan McRae as starting guards. Coach Lue said that McRaeplayed a good defense in the 121-109 win over Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 31.
“Well, just defensively, I thought last game he was good on Batum," Coach Lue said about McRae’s defense to contain Hornets’ guard Nicholas Batum. "I thought he went to the defensive challenge. It's hard to score the basketball when you're playing spurt minutes and you're not really in the rotation every single night.”
Cleveland Cavaliers also played without their wingman Mike Dunleavy who suffered knee problem. While their shooting guard JR Smith is still sidelined for knee injury.
Irving suffered cramp in his right hamstring in fourth quarter of Boston Celtics game on Dec. 29, as reported by Cleveland.com. He limped to the sideline while worked out his muscles, but he never returned to the game as Cleveland defeated the Celtics 124-118.
He still suffered tightness in his right hamstring muscle and missed the game on New Year’s eve and the Monday night game. There have been concern that his hamstring problem is more serious than expected.
It is because he had cramp in his calf first, after banging his knee with team mate LeBron James in the first half of the Celtics game. He returned to the game afterward, but in the fourth quarter the problem with his hamstring came out. There is no official update from the Cavaliers about his condition and whether he will be able to play in the against Chicago Bulls this Wednesday, Jan. 4.
Watch the highlight of the Cleveland Cavaliers game against New Orleans Pelicans as the Cavs won the game 90-82 below:
