Cavaliers' Kyrie Irving: Minutes limit nearing an end

Coach David Blatt mentioned prior to Monday's 122-100 win over the Raptors that Irving was close to having his minutes cap lifted, the Akron Beacon Journal's Jason Lloyd reports. "We're getting close to being beyond [restrictions]," Blatt said of Irving. "He's pretty healthy. I don't see him going out there and playing 40 minutes anytime soon...we'll still be conscious of his minutes and probably gradually upgrade from where we were, but he won't be limited to 15, 20, 23 minutes anymore like we have been."

True to his word, Blatt handed Irving a season-high 29 minutes in Monday's game, and the point guard rewarded the Cavs with his most dazzling outing to date, posting 25 points (10-16 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 3-3 FT), eight assists, and six rebounds. Though Irving's shooting has been inconsistent in his first six games back, he's shown improvement in two of his last three contests, and more importantly, has endured no setbacks with his surgically repaired left knee. He should soon settle into a regular 30-to-35-minute role and top 20 points with regularity most nights.