Kyrie listed as probable for Sunday's game vs. Hawks

The Brooklyn Nets have officially listed point guard Kyrie Irving as probable for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Irving now appears likely to return from a shoulder injury and play in his first game since Nov. 14.

The 27-year-old ball-handler revealed Thursday he was optimistic about returning within the next week. Speaking with reporters on Jan. 4, however, the former Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics star admitted he wouldn't rule out surgery in order to correct the shoulder impingement.

"I tried to go without any anti-inflammatories which is why it took so long," he said. "Now I'm at a place where the next step in any progression was to either get a cortisone shot or get surgery. So, that was the ultimatum I was fixed with.

"Now I'm just doing the best I can to live off of this cortisone and move forward if I need surgery in the future."

Irving is averaging 28.5 points, 7.2 assists, and 5.4 rebounds in 11 games this season. The Nets have gone 13-13 in 26 games without him and are still in a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference despite his absence.