National Basketball Association

Irving back on floor with Cavaliers; Love out with stiff neck

Published Oct. 17, 2014 11:52 a.m. ET

foxsports

CLEVELAND -- Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving is coming back to the court after missing three games with a sprained right ankle.

Irving had his ankle stepped on by teammate Anderson Varejao in practice early last week and didn't play in Brazil when Cleveland faced the Miami Heat.

Cavs coach David Blatt says Irving will play in Friday's exhibition against Dallas. Blatt says Irving "is raring to go, and that's good." Blatt isn't worried about Irving's conditioning because he played this summer with USA basketball.

Blatt is anxious to get Irving on the floor with LeBron James and Kevin Love in advance of the Oct. 30 season opener. Love, though, will not play against the Mavericks. Blatt wants to rest Love, who has played in all four preseason games but was bothered by a stiff neck after a collision in Wednesday night's game in Cincinnati.