Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving sits out second half vs. Pistons with hip tightness

With the Cleveland Cavaliers so close to the playoffs, the team is taking no chances with one of its key starters.  

Kyrie Irving sat out the second half of Monday night's game against the Detroit Pistons as a precaution after experiencing tightness in his hip.

"He experienced tightness at the end of the first half, and as soon as we saw that, we sat him down for the second half," head coach David Blatt told reporters after the game. "Not serious, but something that we need to be cautious about. And therein the reason that he did not play yesterday or Friday. Simple as that. 

"No other plan that was in place for that except that we're trying to make sure everyone is healthy come playoff time. He should be OK."

The point guard finished with 12 points, three rebounds and three assists in 18 minutes.

Asked about Irving's status for Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Washington Wizards, Blatt said: "I'd like to get him out there and play some. Certainly not to overplay him, but if he can't, he can't."

Already locked into the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference standings, the Cavaliers won't be feeling any pressure to play Irving on Wednesday.

"Hey, we want to be healthy going into the postseason," LeBron James said. "If (Irving) has something that's nagging him right now, the postseason starts this weekend, so he has a week or less than to get that feeling as close to 100 percent as possible. Now, obviously, no one can get to 100 percent. We all have nagging injuries, but you want to try to feel as good as you can going into the postseason, and that's the only thing that matters."