Kyrie Irving won't return this season, including playoffs

1:17 PM ET

Adrian WojnarowskiESPN

In the aftermath of left knee surgery, All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving of the Boston Celtics will miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs, league sources told ESPN.

The Celtics are expected to make an announcement soon, sources said.

The Celtics and Irving are evaluating further medical options to treat his left knee, sources said

The loss of Irving is a devastating blow for Boston's hopes of competing for the Eastern Conference championship. The Celtics (53-25) hold the No. 2 seed in the conference. Irving, a five-time All-Star, averaged 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds this season, his first in Boston.

Irving, 26, underwent a procedure to remove a tension wire in the knee on March 24. The wire had been placed in his knee during surgery to repair a fractured patella in 2015. Boston acquired Irving in a blockbuster offseason deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Celtics are still without guard Marcus Smart, who had right thumb surgery in March. He's hopeful to be able to return sometime early in the playoffs.

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