OAKLAND, California (AFP) - Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Kyrie Irving has a broken left kneecap and will miss the rest of the NBA championship series against the Golden State Warriors, the Cavaliers said on Friday.
An MRI exam revealed the extent of the damage a day after Cleveland fell 108-100 to the Warriors in overtime in Game One of the best-of-seven finals.
Irving collapsed to the court in the extra period, grimacing as he limped to the locker room.
The 23-year-old said he knew there were no torn ligaments in the knee but that the feel of the injury was different from the tendinitis he had battled this season.
The Cavaliers said Irving would have surgery in the next few days and his expected recovery time is three to four months.