NBA roundup: Cavaliers' Irving out 3-4 weeks
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced on Monday that guard Kyrie Irving is expected to miss three to four weeks with a sprained left shoulder.
The injury occurred during Sunday night's loss to the Toronto Raptors after he collided with Raptors forward Jonas Valanciunas. Irving was later taken out of the game because he could not raise his left arm to shoot free throws.
The Cavaliers announced that an MRI revealed the sprain.
Finger and knee injuries have cost Irving 14 games this season. He played with a broken jaw earlier in the year. He also sustained a broken right hand when he punched a padded wall during practice last summer.
Irving is averaging 23.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.
---Former NBA player Renaldo Balkman has been fined and banned from the Philippine Basketball Association for life after choking a teammate in a heated exchange during a game recently, Pro Basketball Talk reported.
Perton Blaze was trying to calm Balkman down during a game when Balkman shoved, then choken Blaze.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud handed down a fine of 250,000 Philippine Pesos (about $6,150 American) and a lifetime ban from the league for Balkman.
---New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony is expected to return to action Monday night against the Golden State Warriors after missing three games with a knee injury, multiple media outlets reported.
He said the Knicks medical staff has yet to identify the source of the discomfort in his knee, but he does not expect to need offseason surgery.
