NBA: Irving to return for Cavs

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving celebrates after making a 3-point shot at the buzzer to end the second quarter of a first round NBA playoff basketball game on April 19, 2015, in Cleveland. AP

LOS ANGELES, United States — Cleveland Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving will make his comeback from injury on Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers after fracturing a kneecap in June.

Irving said Saturday he would return to face the visiting Sixers after a lengthy rehabilitation from an injury sustained in the Cavs NBA finals defeat to Golden State.

“I’m pretty … excited,” Irving said. “There were a few things I had to clear, but there was no rush on it. … I’ve been ready to play, but biomechanically we just wanted to make sure everything was good so I wouldn’t put myself at risk.”

Cavs coach David Blatt said the team would carefully monitor Irving’s game time, but said he would start.

Irving is regarded as one of Cleveland’s “Big Three” alongside LeBron James and Kevin Love. Last season he averaged 21.7 points per game, 5.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds.

Although he has been missing from the Cavs ranks this year, Cleveland remain on top of the Eastern Conference with 17 wins from 24 matches.