CLEVELAND – There was a daunting déjà vu for Kyrie Irving late in the third quarter of Game 4. He was writhing in the ground in pain after stepping on Terry Rozier’s foot going up for a layup, which he hit of course.
Down on the sideline, wondering if this was the end of his night, he thought back to the many times he had been there before. Spraining his ankle was nothing new.
The blindingly bright wooden floor shining in his face, the void left by the silence of the crowd amplifying his groans. He faced his sink or swim moment.