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NBA roundup: Irving ‘fine’ after hard fall
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard was injured Thursday during Team USA’s 95-71 win over Ukraine in FIBA World Cup group play at
With about a minute to go in the game, Irving was driving to the basket when he had his shot blocked and he fell to the ground hard. He clutched his back as he was helped to the locker room by a trainer.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski told ESPN after the game that the team does not think that Irving suffered a serious injury.
Irving spoke after the game and said the landing looked worse than it was. He said his muscle was sore but his tailbone was fine.
“I’m fine,” he said, adding there is no doubt that he will continue to play.
Irving scored 11 points, six assists and had four steals as Team USA pulled away from a Ukrainian team that held a seven-point, first quarter lead.
–The Toronto Raptors announced they have signed free-agent center Greg Stiemsma. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Stiemsma, 6-foot-11, 260-pounder out of Wisconsin, averaged 2.9 points with a career-high 4.1 rebounds per game last season with New Orleans. He started 20 games.
Stiemsma has played for New Orleans, Minnesota and Boston. He owns career averages of 3.4 points, 3.6 rebounds per game in 186 games.
