Kyrie Irving has insisted that he is "pretty confident" that he will be ready to play game two for the Cleveland Cavaliers in their Eastern Conference playoff finals series against the Atlanta Hawks.
The point guard has been struggling with tendinitis in his knee, which flared up during the 97-89 win over the Hawks in the opening clash of the series.
The 23-year-old told reporters: "Right now, I'm pretty confident I'll go.
"This is obviously one of the most frustrating things I've ever dealt with, just from [when] we do days and days [of rehabilitation] and you go out there and it's nothing like simulating a game. So, for me, I'm just going to continue to do what I've been doing and do whatever is necessary to put myself out there.
"At this point, from the compensation on my right foot, my left knee is a little bit more stiff than I would like it to be, but like I said before in the past series and like I'm going to continue to say, it's just no excuses."
Irving finished the game with 10 points in a 27-minute spell for the Cavaliers.
Sian Cowper
