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Cavaliers choose not to air Irving tribute video

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

The Cleveland Cavaliers elected against playing a tribute video for former point guard Kyrie Irving on Tuesday night in his return to Quicken Loans Arena as a member of the Boston Celtics.

While the plan heading into the game was to show a video, team spokesperson Tad Carper told Cleveland.com's Jason Lloyd it was nixed because "we were expecting to run it at a floating opportunity based on the right moment, and we felt that moment never presented itself."

Related - Report: Several Cavs unhappy with planned tribute video for Irving

Gordon Hayward's gruesome injury midway through the first quarter - which was later diagnosed as a fractured left ankle - was not "directly" related to the choice, Carper said.

Related - Watch: Cavaliers fans mercilessly boo Irving in his return

Irving went first overall to Cleveland in the 2011 draft, playing six seasons with the organization before asking management for a trade this summer. He helped the Cavaliers advance to The Finals each of the last three years, and hit a pivotal 3-pointer late in Game 7 during the 2016 series against the Golden State Warriors that clinched the victory and the championship.

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