National Basketball Association

Report: Kyrie Irving dealing with strained foot, tendonitis

Published May. 11, 2015 3:18 p.m. ET

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By Will Gibson

An MRI has revealed what anyone watching the Cleveland Cavaliers lately already knew: Kyrie Irving is hurt. Irving underwent the test Monday morning, and it showed both a strain in his right foot and tendinitis in his left knee, per several sources.

He will play in Game 5 against the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night.

Irving has been visibly slowed by the injuries in the playoffs, especially in the last two games against the Bulls. He shot 5-of-23 in Games 3 and 4 and averaged 11.5 points. Irving has managed to battle through the pain, playing 38 minutes in Game 3 and 41 minutes in Game 4, but he has labored on both ends and has been unable to get to the rim with his usual explosion.

Irving, for his part, is not using the injuries as excuses, and said as much after going 3-of-13 in Game 3.

"I tried to get treatment on [the foot], tried to stay ready to play,” he admitted. “But for me, I don’t make any excuses for myself, and for me to go out there, obviously, I was just trying to play through it best I can, and I’m still going to continue to do that. But, as I said before, there’s no excuses.

“I know coach is trying to protect me with what he said, 3 for 13, that’s not like me. I’m not going to hang my head down on having a bad foot. I’m just going to continue to have that mindset to go out and compete for my brothers.”

When Kevin Love went out, Irving’s role in the Cavs’ playoff run became even more important. His injuries make Cleveland's uphill climb that much steeper and add more pressure to LeBron James and the rest of the Cavs.

The Cavs and Bulls are knotted at two games apiece. Game 5 is at the Q Tuesday. Tipoff time is 7 p.m.

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