LeBron: Matchup with Heat ‘doesn’t matter’

Don’t try telling LeBron James the Cavaliers’ preseason game against the Miami Heat is a big deal.

"It doesn’t matter," James said from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the site of Saturday’s game. "It’s really not a storyline. It’s what you guys make of it. I made a decision, just like a lot of guys made decisions (last) summer. Both teams are trying to strive to win a championship and that’s it."

James left Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and the Heat via free agency in July, returning to the franchise that drafted him. He left the franchise that drafted him for the Heat four years before that.

So yes, this is a matchup between the two teams for which James has played. That alone makes it at least a little bit of a big deal, considering James is widely considered the league’s best player.

The Heat advanced to four straight Finals, winning twice. The Cavs haven’t made the playoffs since James left. In fact, they compiled the NBA’s worst record in that span.

Now he’s back, with Kevin Love and others, and the Cavs are true contenders once again.

What’s all that have to do with this game?

Yeah. Nothing.

"I’m not really that far into it right now with all my emotions; it’s too early (in the season)," James said. "If you get to into it now, you’ll get drained too fast."

You could, however, make the case that the Heat are into it. At least, it sure seemed that way a couple days ago — when Bosh responded to a question about LeBron by saying he’s only concerned with the guys who play for Miami. Since James is no longer one of them, some folks viewed Bosh’s comments as a slight to the four-time MVP.

But Bosh clarified things Thursday.

"There’s no hard feelings or anything," Bosh said. "If we’re both trying to win, he’s against us and that’s a matter of fact. We’ll see each other on the court, that’s plenty of time to catch up."

Meanwhile, Wade didn’t just mention LeBron, but former Heat teammates Mike Miller and James Jones as well. Both Miller and Jones, of course, are also first-year members of the Cavs.

"It’ll be fine," Wade said of the matchup against his former teammates, citing the fact he played against LeBron during their first seven seasons in the league, and with him for only four with the Heat.

"It’s good to get this one out of the way in preseason — the weirdness of seeing Mike Miller and (Jones) — and from there it’s a basketball game."

Kyrie likely out

Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving is expected to miss Saturday’s game after injuring his right ankle in practice Tuesday. Irving wore a walking boot for part of the day Wednesday and did not practice Thursday.

Both Irving and the Cavs have said the injury is not serious, and X-rays and an MRI were negative.

Irving injured the foot during a scrimmage — when he and James and Anderson Varejao, all on the same team, all cut toward the basket at the same time. Varejao accidentally stepped on Irving’s foot in the mayhem.

"We’re still getting used to each other," Irving said. "LeBron saw me, then Andy saw Bron’s eyes, so we went to the same position and he ends up stepping on my foot."

He said "probably not" when asked if he would play against the Heat. The Cavs face the Milwaukee Bucks back at The Q for a preseason game Tuesday.