Kyrie Irving out second game in row with knee injury

Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

The Cleveland Cavaliers only needed to look at their last opponent for an example.

They will sit point guard Kyrie Irving for a second consecutive game Wednesday night, against the Toronto Raptors, because of a hyperextended right knee. They last sat the 2011 No. 1 overall pick and reigning rookie of the year Tuesday night against the Chicago Bulls.

Irving banged knees with a teammate in practice last week, then aggravated the injury Sunday in a loss to the Miami Heat. This probably is a precautionary measure. Irving is listed as day to day. The Cavaliers started Shaun Livingston against the Bulls and won 101-98, with rookie combo guard Dion Waiters picking up the slack with 25 points.

But Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, the point guard drafted first overall in 2008, missed stretches of last season with groin, back and toe injuries before tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during the playoffs. He hasn't played at all this season.

Irving, 20, has his own lengthy injury history. He broke his right toe during his only season at Duke, causing him to miss much of the year. He broke his hand during the offseason by slapping a padded wall. He broke his index finger earlier this season and missed almost a month. He broke his jaw, forcing him to wear a mask temporarily.

The Cavs already are hampered by center Anderson Varejao's season-ending lung problem and forward Omri Casspi's appendix surgery complications. And they are well out of playoff position.

So they can't be blamed for taking precautions, even if the latest soreness is nothing more than soreness. Injury prone players are prone to being injured.