Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving will return from a shoulder injury to play on Sunday night against the New Orleans Hornets, the team announced.

Irving has missed the team’s last eight games with an AC sprain of his left shoulder — suffered during a March 10 game against the Raptors — that was expected to sideline him for three-to-four weeks. He will sit out Monday’s game as a precaution as “he takes steps in his recovery,” the team said, according to NBA.com’s David Aldridge and the Associated Press’ Tom Withers.

The Cavs went just 1-7 in his absence and are currently on a seven-game losing streak.

Cavs announce Kyrie Irving (shoulder) cleared to play tonight against Hornets, will be held out of Monday's game as precaution.—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) March 31, 2013

#Cavs say Irving will not play in Atlanta tomorrow night as "he takes steps in his recovery."—
Tom Withers (@twithersAP) March 31, 2013

Irving has been the breakout player of the 2012-13 season, averaging 23.0 points and 5.7 assists per game while shooting 41.4 percent from three-point range. The 21-year-old was the first overall pick out of Duke in last year’s NBA draft.

But he has been unable to escape the injury bug, also missing time during the preseason with a broken hand and in November with a broken index finger.

Irving has played 49 games this season after playing 51 as a rookie — missing much of the last month with a similar right shoulder sprain — and just 11 in his lone season at Duke.

Dion Waiters will be out a week with a left knee injury. (David Liam Kyle/Getty Images)

The odds of the Cleveland Cavaliers spoiling another homecoming for LeBron James just got a little slimmer.

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports tweeted Tuesday afternoon that Dion Waiters, one of the top rookies from last year’s NBA draft class, will miss a week after an MRI revealed a “small loose cartilage fragment” in his left knee.

The Cavs host the Miami Heat on Wednesday night as Miami looks to extend its winning streak to 24 games, a run that’s already among the best in NBA history, second only to the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers’ 33 consecutive wins.

Waiters played only 12 minutes in the 111-90 road loss to the Indiana Pacers Monday night before going down with the injury. In his first season in the NBA, the former Syracuse standout is averaging 14.7 points in 29 minutes per game.

The Cavs will also be without All-Star guard Kyrie Irving, who hasn’t played since March 10 because of a left shoulder contusion, and is expected to be out until the beginning of April.

An MRI on Cavs guard Dion Waiters' left knee revealed small loose cartilage fragment and he is out a week for rest, treatment, observation.—
Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) March 19, 2013

Kyrie Irving #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers calls out the play in the game against the Memphis Grizzlies. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)

Cleveland Cavaliers‘ guard Kyrie Irving is expected to miss three to four weeks after suffering a shoulder sprain last night against Toronto. Irving left during the third quarter of last night’s game at the Air Canada Centre and X-rays taken were negative.

Irving was reevaluated today in Cleveland where an MRI and physical exam by Cavaliers Head Team Physician Dr. Richard Parker revealed the sprain in Irving’s left shoulder. Irving has missed 14 games this season with a broken finger and hyperextended knee and with only 19 games left on the Cavaliers schedule, Irving may not suit up again this season.

The guard has scored 23 points a night for the Cavs this season on 46.6 percent shooting in his second season in the NBA.

INJURY UPDATE: @KyrieIrving OUT three to four weeks w/ Left AC (acromioclavicular) sprain. More: ow.ly/iLkFH #AllForOne—
Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) March 11, 2013

Cavs star point guard Kyrie Irving is still weeks away from practicing contact drills after breaking his left index finger. (David Liam Kyle/Getty Images)

The timetable for the return of Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving may be extended and he likely won’t be practicing in contact drills for a couple of weeks, coach Byron Scott told the News-Herald:

“I know he’s anxious,” Scott said. “We’re not going to take any chances. We’ll leave it up to the doctors. He has to get at least one practice in. The chance of him coming back early, I don’t know.”

Irving suffered a hairline fracture in his left index finger on Nov. 17 in a loss to the Mavs. Doctors estimated that he would miss four weeks. Irving was averaging 22.9 points and 5.6 assists per game prior to the injury. The team is 2-6 since he’s been out of the lineup.

President Barack Obama has Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony and other basketball stars committed to a fundraising event. (Saul Loeb/Getty Images)

Barack Obama is about to get a boost in his fundraising efforts from a number of big names in the basketball world.

According to a report Tuesday afternoon from CBS.com, citing a campaign e-mail, the president will hold an “Obama Classic” basketball game as a fundraiser. Among those scheduled to participate are Michael Jordan, Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning and Sheryl Swoops.

The date and location of the game has not been confirmed.

For three dollars, a supporter can enter for the chance to win tickets to the game and a free flight and a night at a hotel.

Obama recently showed his support for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team. Vice-president Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama were with him in attendance for the team’s exhibition win against Brazil in Washington D.C. in July.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will draft Florida guard Bradley Beal if he lasts until the fourth pick of the NBA Draft, reports Hoopsworld.com‘s Alex Kennedy in a tweet.

"There's no way Beal slips out of the top four," said one league source. The Cleveland Cavaliers will draft him if he's available at four.

—
Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) June 19, 2012

Reports in the lead up to the draft should always be taken with a grain of salt, as teams use misdirection to conceal their true intentions. Previous reports had Cleveland targeting North Carolina’s Harrison Barnes with the fourth pick.

Beal may not last until the fourth pick, either. While Kentucky’s Anthony Davis will almost certainly go No. 1 to the New Orleans Hornets, the Charlotte Bobcats and Washington Wizards could go numerous ways with the second and third picks. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist could go to either team. Charlotte recently has been linked to Kansas forward Thomas Robinson.

Kennedy also reports on Twitter that teams interested in Beal are looking to move ahead of Cleveland to land the guard.

If the Cavaliers do land Beal, he would fit well alongside point guard Kyrie Irving, last year’s No. 1 overall pick and the league’s Rookie of the Year. The backcourt could provide the foundation for the Cavaliers for years to come.

Kyrie Irving was the lone unanimous selection to the NBA’s 2011-12 All-Rookie First Team. (David Liam Kyle, Getty Images)

The NBA announced its list of the top 12 rookies of the 2011-12 season today, with Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving receiving a unanimous selection on the first team. Irving averaged 18.5 points, 5.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in his first NBA season, and was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year earlier this year.

Irving is joined by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio, Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried, Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard and Detroit Pistons guard Brandon Knight on the first team, which includes seven players instead of the customary five because of a three-way tie for fifth place.

Houston Rockets forward Chandler Parsons, Sacramento Kings guard Isiah Thomas, New Jersey Nets guard MarShon Brooks, Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams and Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson make up the All-Rookie Second Team.

Kyring Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers will be named the 2012 Rookie of the Year, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com.

Irving was the Number One overall pick in 2011 out of Duke, despite missing most of the season with an injured foot.

In his inaugural campaign with the Cavs, Irving averaged 18.5 points per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving could return from injury tonight, according to Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Irving has been sidelined since he sprained his right shoulder March 30. The 20-year-old, however, has been ramping up workouts in recent weeks in hopes of returning to the team before the end of the season.

“It depends on [trainer] Max [Benton] and the medical staff and if they clear me to play along with coach Scott,” Irving told the Plain Dealer. “Right now, it’s in my hands, but not really.”

In 46 games this season, Irving has averaged 18.8 points and 5.7 assists per contest.

Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Kyrie Irving will be out at least a week with a sprained shoulder, according to the Associated Press. Irving aggravated the injury Tuesday in a blowout loss to San Antonio.

Irving underwent an MRI Wednesday, which revealed a sprain and bruise in his shoulder. He is expected to miss a week, but it could be up to 1o days.

The leading scorer for the Cavaliers, Irving is averaging 18.8 points and 5.7 assists per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie point guard Kyrie Irving has been cleared to play tonight, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

#Cavs have activated Kyrie Irving. He will play tonight

—
Reed, Boyer (@PDcavsinsider) February 15, 2012

After participating in the entire practice Tuesday, Irving is set to finally play tonight at home against the Indiana Pacers.  The rookie was sidelined after he experienced headaches, later diagnosed as a concussion, shortly before playing against the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb.8.  The concussion was believed to be sustained the day before against the Miami Heat when Irving made a drive to the basket and fell down hitting his head against Dwayne Wade’s knee.

Before the injury, Irving was averaging  18 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers rookie point guard Kyrie Irving will miss the next two games with a concussion, according to ESPN.

Irving sustained the concussion against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter Tuesday when he attempted to drive to the basket and fell back striking his head on Dwayne Wade’s knee. The Cavaliers ended up losing the contest 91-107.

Already out one game, Irving will also miss the next two home games on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks and Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Irving’s status is officially listed as day-to-day and he will be replaced by Ramon Sessions. The Cavaliers (10-14) will be playing tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks (11-14).

Kyrie Irving has already seen a lot of milestones in his young NBA career — his first start, his first game-winning shot, his first 30-point game. Now he’s got his first injury as well. Irving is out with a concussion, according to ESPN.

Moments before tipoff of tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the team revealed Irving’s injury. There is no immediate timetable for his return.

The Cavaliers said in a release that Irving was kneed in the head during the fourth quarter of last night’s loss to the Heat. He complained of a headache after the game, and that headache worsened during the day today.

Ramon Sessions will temporarily start in place of Irving, who has averaged 18.0 points and 5.1 assists so far this season for the Cavs.