Kyrie Irving: “Six days of treatment and it all goes down in one play”

The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t just win a game on Thursday night, they won the chance to rest for the next six days in advance of the Eastern Conference Finals. With Kyrie Irving sustaining yet another injury midway through the first half, no player could use the time off more than the ailing point guard.

Falling back on defense just 12 minutes of playing time in, Irving stepped on the foot of teammate Tristan Thompson and aggravated his left knee. Then came the Matthew Dellavedova explosion of 19 points and terrific defensive play.

“Six days, seven days of treatment and it all goes down in one play,” said a frustrated Irving following the game. “I came into the locker room figuring I was going to go back out, but we were up by 14 at that point and Delly had that fire in his heart. I couldn’t be happier for anyone on our team—the way he competed, whether we ask him to play two minutes or 48, he’s going to give it his all.”

Irving later referred to Dellavedova as his “Aussie brother,” and described the two player watching film together in preparation of impending games. Thanks to their Game 6 win, the two will have plenty of time to do so over the next six days as they await their opponent for the Eastern Conference crown. That Irving was planning on reentering the game after he emerged from the locker room is a positive sigh. That he will also have another six days to get his ailing legs in better shape is even better.