Blatt: Irving, Shumpert could return in next 2 games

As Christmas inches closer, so does the return of injured Cleveland Cavaliers players Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert. Head coach David Blatt says that one - or both - could suit up and make their season debut over the next two games.

"There's a chance they play, there's also a chance they don't," Blatt told reporters after practice Thursday. The Cavs hit the road for the next two contests, in Orlando against the Magic on Friday, and Tuesday in Boston against the Celtics.

"It’s a day-to-day thing with both of them," Blatt added. "We kind of like to let them get through the practice, then the next morning gauge how they’re feeling. And then just go from there."

With the season now well into December, the Cavaliers are approaching the time they expected to have their starting backcourt back in place. An unofficial assumption for Irving's return from a fractured left kneecap had been centered around Christmas Day, while Shumpert's recovery from wrist surgery targeted a mid-month availability.

Irving has apparently been progressing well, participating in full-contact practices for a week now. According to a report last month, he needed to meet that one-week setback-free practice requirement in order to be given the green light to play.

Cleveland has weathered the injury situation as well as it could've hoped, sitting at 14-7 going into the weekend. It was common knowledge coming into the season that the team preferred to have fresh legs for next spring above all else, but frustration has been evident from team leader LeBron James over the last seven games, in which the Cavs have gone 3-4.