The Cavaliers landed in Brazil for their weekend preseason game against the Miami Heat, and within hours the news broke: Kyrie Irving is in a walking boot.
But the injury is not serious, the Cavaliers say.
Irving tweaked his right ankle at practice Tuesday, but X-rays and an MRI came up negative. The Cavs were merely taking extra precaution, along with providing treatment, by putting Irving's foot in a boot.
Tip-off for Saturday's game against the Heat is 5 p.m. Eastern on FOX Sports Ohio. Irving's status for Saturday is to be determined.
Irving is entering his fourth season with the Cavs. It's been a banner year for the point guard, who was named MVP of the NBA All-Star Game, as well as the FIBA World Championships, after leading Team USA to the gold medal.
He also signed a contract extension with the Cavs in early July, and has since been joined by stars LeBron James and Kevin Love.
Irving, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft, has led the Cavs in scoring and assists in each of his first three seasons. He enters the year with career averages of 20.7 points and 5.8 assists per game.
He missed a combined 54 games in his first two seasons with an assortment of injuries, but missed just 11 games last season as the Cavs made a push for the playoffs.
Allen still undecided
Both the Cavs and Ray Allen's agent shot down reports Tuesday that the free-agent shooting guard had agreed to a contract with the Cavs.
The Cavs called the report untrue and Allen's agent, Jim Tanner, sent out a tweet.
"Let me be very clear, Ray's position has not changed," agent Tanner tweeted. "Ray has not decided if he will play this season nor has he signed w/ the @Cavs."
Along with the Cavs, the San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls and Heat are also said to be interested. Allen, 39, averaged 9.6 points in 73 games last season with the Miami.
Speed on way
With Irving and point, LeBron James and Dion Waiters filling the wings, and rebounding-machines Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao starting the break, it may be difficult for the Cavs to play anything less than up-tempo.
Just ask first-year Cavs coach David Blatt.
"I think by nature with the guys we've got, that's going to happen," Blatt said. "I've always believed that fast-break basketball is more a result of the personality of the player and the ability of the player to run than it is a philosophy. Of course, you can say, 'I want to be a running team, 'but if you don't have guys who can run, it's going to be awfully hard. We do, so that will be part of our game, certainly."
Bosh's strong words
James once left the Cavs for the Heat (2010) in free agency and then left the Heat for the Cavs (2014).
Chris Bosh was James' teammate in Miami, and supposedly a close friend. But as often can happen in free agency, friendships struggle.
That may or may not be the case with Bosh, who was asked about facing James in Saturday's exhibition. Bosh responded somewhat less-than-favorably.
"If guys aren't in this locker room, then I don't have much time for them, if any," he said when asked about LeBron.
Bosh, James and Dwyane Wade led the Heat to the Finals in four straight seasons, winning the title twice. The Heat own three championships as an organization.
