Boston Celtics have announced that All-star point guard, Kyrie Irving is expected to be out of action for 4-5 months and will be out for the rest of the regular season and playoffs.
In the aftermath of his left knee surgery, Kyrie Irving will on Saturday undergo another surgery procedure to remove two screws from his patella that were inserted three years ago to repair a fracture he suffered in 2015 NBA Finals. The team said a bacterial infection was seen at the site of the screws when Irving had his most recent surgery, on March 24, to remove tension wire in the knee and that Saturday’s procedure will ensure no infection remains in the knee. The wire had been placed in his knee during the same surgery in which the screws were inserted in 2015.
Boston Celtics reaffirmed that Kyrie Irving’s patella is completely healed and “remains structurally sound.” Irving is expected to recover fully in four to five months, the revealed.
Irving spoke on this in an Instagram post Thursday and wrote, “This season was only a snapshot of what’s to come from me.”
The loss of Irving is a devastating blow for Boston’s hopes of competing for the Eastern Conference championship. The Celtics (53-25) hold the No. 2 seed in the conference. The 26-year-old Irving, who last played in a game on March 11, averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds this season, his first in Boston.
Boston acquired Irving in a blockbuster offseason deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Celtics are still without guard Marcus Smart, who had right thumb surgery in March. He’s hopeful to be able to return sometime early in the playoffs.
After Thursday’s news, the Celtics’ odds at the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook dropped from 20-1 to 80-1 to win the NBA title and from 9-2 to 20-1 to win the Eastern Conference.
