Guard Kyrie Irving tested his sore left knee and a new, smaller brace on Saturday but remains "questionable" for Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers coach David Blatt has said.
Irving, who had been playing with an injured right foot and left knee pain for most of the playoffs, sat out Friday's 94-82 victory that gave the Cavs a 2-0 series lead. A few hours earlier, he had flown to Florida to see Dr. James Andrews about the knee.
The Cavs say the foot injury has largely healed.
Andrews confirmed the Cavs' original diagnosis of tendinitis but offered a "different interpretation" of how to treat the injury, team officials said. Irving is now taking a new medication, doing different exercises and wearing a brace.
Irving, who did not speak to the media on Saturday, did some shooting and took part in one-on-one drills against assistant coach Phil Handy and the team's development staff.
"He's questionable for [Sunday] and, you know, hopefully he responds well to the little workout he did [Saturday]," Blatt said.
Up 2-0 in the series with the next two games in Cleveland and the Hawks missing sharpshooter Kyle Korver, the Cavs appear to be in a good position to rest Irving with an eye toward a potential spot in the NBA Finals, which would begin on June 4.
However, Blatt said Irving's status for Game 3 would be determined by a doctor, not by the Cavs' situation.
"If he's able to play, then he'll play," Blatt said. "He's a big part of the team, and this series is not finished. But if he's not able to play, then he won't. That's the determining factor."
Irving's replacement, Matthew Dellavedova, scored 11 points with six rebounds and four assists in Game 2. Irving is averaging 18.9 points and 3.5 assists in the playoffs.