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Shoulder sidelines Kyrie Irving again

NBA, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets

CLEVELAND -- The Cavaliers will be without at least one All-Star on Sunday in Houston.

Point guard Kyrie Irving will miss his second straight game with a strained left shoulder, an injury the team had thought would only sideline him for one game. Irving injured his shoulder in the second half of Thursday night's home win over Golden State. He did not travel with the team for Friday night's game at Indiana.

Cavaliers coach David Blatt said the team expects to have Irving back for Tuesday's game against the Boston Celtics.

"Kyrie was evaluated again yesterday and we determined that he needed another day," Blatt said Sunday prior to Cleveland's game. "Unfortunately he can't play today and he will, I believe, barring any unforeseen circumstances, be back on Tuesday."

As his teammates practiced in Texas, Irving received more treatment on his shoulder at the team's training complex in Independence, Ohio. His status will next be updated at the team's shootaround on Tuesday before the Cavs host Boston.

Irving has dealt with discomfort in his left shoulder before in his career, but Blatt downplayed the significance of it reoccurring.

"We don't believe it's anything serious," Blatt said. "It's just a matter of a couple of days to get better."

Irving is averaging 21.7 points and 5.2 assists. He has missed four games this season after sitting out a combined 49 in his first three NBA seasons.

Cleveland lost 93-86 to the Pacers without Irving and LeBron James, who was kept out with a sore back. James has missed 11 games this season with an assortment of injuries and the team has gone 2-9 without the four-time MVP.

James is expected to be back for Sunday's matchup against the Rockets (40-18), one of several tough games in a rugged stretch for the Cavs (37-23), who have won 18 of 21. The superstar did travel with the team to Houston.

ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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