Cavaliers' Irving out Friday vs. Celtics

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without point guard Kyrie Irving when they take on the Boston Celtics on Friday.

Irving felt soreness in his hip during pregame and shootaround, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Irving has appeared in the Cavaliers' last 17 games and scored 27 points in 41 minutes of work during his last appearance, so his injury appears to be new. 

Given that the Cavaliers have locked up the second seed in the East, there's no harm being cautious with Irving's ailment.

The 23-year-old guard has been excellent for the Cavaliers all season long, posting averages of 22 points, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 36.9 minutes per game.