CLEVELAND — Kyrie Irving has been knocked out by an injury again, and it's really painful for the Cavaliers.
Irving will miss at least two weeks with a strained tendon in his left biceps, a major blow to Cleveland's chances of making the NBA playoffs with only a month left in the regular season.
Irving got hurt during the first half of Sunday night's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. The all-star point guard did not return after missing all five shots and leaving the game for medical evaluation and treatment. He flew back with the Cavaliers and Monday underwent an MRI, which revealed "a strain in the long head tendon" of his biceps, the Cavs said in a release.
The 21-year-old will be shut down for two weeks, then re-evaluated. The Cavs said the tendon's response "will determine the most appropriate course of treatment."
He'll miss at least eight of the final 15 games, and without their leading scorer and best player, it will be tough for the Cavs (26-41) to clinch the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland begins the week 4 1/2 games behind Atlanta.
He sat out 38 games his first two seasons with a variety of injuries, including a broken nose, fractured jaw, broken finger, sprained shoulder, and concussion. He's already missed three games this year with a bruised knee and is expected to sit for eight more.