Kyrie Irving (Getty)Kyrie Irving aggravated his right shoulder strain on Tuesday night against the Spurs, was examined at the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday, and has been shut down by the Cavs for as much as the next two weeks. The 17-34 Cavs have no reason to push Irving to risk further injury or rush his recovery, so expect caution here, and consider his default h2h season over for all intents and purposes. Both Donald Sloan and Lester Hudson should be in line for major minutes, with Irving sidelined and Daniel Gibson done for the season. Sloan played 35 minutes during his spot start on Saturday, scoring 10 points and adding seven boards, four assists, and two steals; Hudson posted a respectable line (22 minutes, 12 points, 2 threes, 2 steals) during Tuesday's blowout loss. The Cavs have two games remaining in the current week and then have a league-best five games during the default h2h finals [schedule].
• The Magic played without Dwight Howard (back spasms), Ryan Anderson (sprained ankle), and Jameer Nelson (sprained ankle) on Tuesday. Both Howard and Nelson are considered day-to-day in advance of Thursday's matchup with the Knicks. Anderson's ankle still looks like a softball, however, and he's expected to be out another four or five days, which covers the Magic's two remaining games for the current week (Thu NYK, Sat @PHI). That should mean two more starts for Glen Davis, who has averaged 39 minutes, 24.5 points, 13 boards, 2 steals, and 1 block over the past two games.
• Back-to-back starts at power forward have produced averages of 36 minutes, 20 points, 1 three, 11.5 boards, 1 steal, and 2 blocks for Byron Mullens. Paul Silas is committed to giving Mullens extended run over the rest of the season, and the Bobcats, play a league-best five games during the h2h finals week [schedule].
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