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Here’s the tweet from Tony Massarotti of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Felger and Mazz:
My understanding is that Kyrie Irving is getting a 2nd opinion on his left knee, perhaps as soon as tomorrow. Bottom line: he needs the screws out. Knee is flaring up. He will either play thru it going forward or ... he will get thee screws out and won't play at all. Stay tuned.
— Tony Massarotti (@TonyMassarotti) March 20, 2018
What’s different from this report and others is severity. Earlier last week, Danny Ainge intimated that the Celtics were aware of Kyrie’s knee issue but that the long term prognosis was good. Before Sunday’s game in New Orleans, Irving went through a pre-game warm up but his knee flared up again and the Celtics held him out. Tonight’s game vs. the Thunder marks his fourth missed game after sitting out the second half against the Pacers two Sundays ago. What was initially diagnosed as left knee tendinitis seems bigger now.
There’s word that Kyrie will seek a second opinion:
With lack of progress on his ailing left knee, Celtics All-Star Kyrie Irving plans to travel for a second opinion later this week, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 20, 2018
The Celtics head out for a four-game West coast trip starting on Friday, but at this point, the immediate schedule and even the playoffs seem secondary to Kyrie’s long term health. For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tried to ease some panic with this report that ultimately, rest is Irving’s best option with his nagging knee:
.@wojespn gives us an update on Kyrie Irving's sore left knee. pic.twitter.com/rwIKf2as4y
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 20, 2018
Brad Stevens on Kyrie 2nd Opinion:
h.