OAKLAND (USA Today) – Kyrie Irving sat at his locker with a towel over his head for about five minutes after reporters finished asking questions.
He was alone with his thoughts.
But minutes before, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ All-Star guard said he was “a little disappointed, a little frustrated” that he re-injured his left knee in overtime of Golden State’s 108-100 victory against the Cavs in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.
For the previous 40-plus minutes he played, Irving was fantastic, showing no signs of the tendinitis that has bothered him and kept him from playing as much as he wanted in the two previous series.
“Coming in I felt amazing,” said Irving, who had 23 points, seven rebounds, six assists, four steals and two blocks, including one on Steph Curry that set up Cleveland’s potentially game-winning possession at the end of regulation.