Via Cleveland.com Joe Vardon Kyrie Irving said his surgically repaired left knee bothered him so much on the Cavs' off day Thursday that it was "a terrible day for me and my knee." ________________________________ "I mean it's never easy, even the year after, just to realize that you have plates and screws in your knee and stuff like that," Irving said. _________________________________ Irving limped to the bench and then to the locker room late in the third quarter, but was able to return in the fourth. He took one shot in the final quarter, and finished the game with 18 points. ________________________________ "It just, I don't want it to feel sore anymore but it's just the realization of it," Irving said. "I'm doing everything possible to take care of my body, I've got a clear conscience with that. But also understand that sometimes it's gonna hurt. And I gotta be able to deal with it. ________________________________ "So the next few days are pretty important. Tomorrow and then playing in Atlanta and Miami, and then just doing everything possible to prepare. #cavs #kyrie #kyrieirving ™@cleveland.com : #CAVS🏀 #CTown #IrvingFoundation #IrvingFamilyIsForever #SavannahJames #StriveForGreatness🚀 #StriveForGreatness #JamesFans #JamesGang #JamesKids #JamesTeam #JamesFamilyIsForever #JamesFamily #JamesFoundation