The Boston Celtics are set to face the Cleveland Cavaliers in preseason play on Tuesday night, but it sounds like they'll be without the services of their star point guard. Sherrod Blakey of NBC Sports reports that Kyrie Irving will be held out for rest. There is also a bit of good news, however. Al Horford, who's been dealing with a sprained right wrist, is âgood to goâ against the Cavs.
Following Monday's practice session, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens explained why Irving will be held out of Tuesday's game.
âWe probably wonât play Kyrie tomorrow, just rest-wise,â Brad Stevens told NBC Sports. âHe practiced all the way today, practiced hard. We practiced pretty good today, we went at it pretty good. We needed to. I didnât think we were great in either game [versus Charlotte], and obviously thatâs to be expected. We needed to get after it a little bit.â
Stevens noted that Irving asked to practice a bit longer on Sunday, knowing heâd rest on Tuesday.
âProbably intended more like 25 but he wanted to keep going from a conditioning standpoint and it didnât affect him being able to go all the way through and hard today,â Stevens added. âWe were thinking about both of those things as the 29-minute mark hit. But he feels really good and thatâs a good thing.â




Horford tweaked his wrist in the first half of Friday's preseason opener against the Charlotte Hornets, but it sounds like he's feeling fine.
âFeel fine, went through practice, so Iâm good to go for tomorrow,â Al Horford said after Mondayâs practice.
With Irving ruled out of Tuesday's game, the Celtics will likely call on Perry Dozier and Terry Rozier at the point, though other line-ups are certainly within the realm of possibility.
Tuesday night's game is set to tip inside TD Garden at 8:00 p.m. EST with TNT having live broadcast coverage.